‘N8.5bn Fraud’: Court orders final forfeiture of properties linked to retired army general

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has obtained an order of final forfeiture of some properties linked to Emmanuel Atewe, a retired major-general and former commander of the military joint task force, Operation Pulo Shield, in the Niger Delta.

In a statement issued by the commission, the antigraft agency said the forfeited assets include seven properties in the federal capital territory (FCT) and one in Bayelsa state, as well as 30,000 MTN shares (MTN Link Units).

The EFCC said Chukujekwu Aneke, judge of the federal high court in Lagos, issued the order of final forfeiture of the assets on Friday.

The commission said the landed properties are 50 hectares of farmland at plot no. FL746B Gaube farmland extension II layout, Kuje, Abuja; a piece of land located at the commercial layout, Yenagoa Gardens, Bayelsa; one hectare of land in Kuje district, Abuja; plot no. CP10, sector centre B layout, Kuje, Abuja; plot MF62 outer northern expressway cadastral zone, Abuja; plot no. 1228 Jahi, Abuja; four hectares of land designated as plot no.CP6386, and plot no.CP6387, Sabon Lugbe, Abuja.

Following an ex parte application filed before Muhammad Liman – the judge has since been transferred to the Kano division of the federal high court – the EFCC said it had on March 26, 2020, secured the interim forfeiture of landed properties, 30,000 MTN shares, and the sum of 290 million naira “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity”.

“The assets are part of proceeds of N8.5 billion for the military operation Pulo Shield in the Niger Delta which he was accused of diverting from the military between September 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015,” EFCC said.

The antigraft agency said Atewe is being prosecuted alongside Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Kime Enzogu, and Josephine Otuaga on a 22-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and money laundering.

The EFCC said while the court granted the final forfeiture of the properties to the federal government, the judge refused its prayers for the final forfeiture of the sum of 290 million naira.