Ex-Accountant General, Sambo’s aide forfeit N775m, properties to FG

A former Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Jonah Otunla and Colonel Bello Fadile, aide to former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, have forfeited N775 million and several properties to the Federal Government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday November 21, 2022, secured the final forfeiture of the sum and several properties before Justice D.U. Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The properties are located at No. 8 Ajay Crowther Street, Asokoro, Abuja; a Plot of land at Plot 1960 Cadastral Zone A05 Maitama District, FCT, Abuja; a Hotel which is under construction with generating set, located at Plot 621, Road 37, Gwarimpa, FCT, Abuja and a twin 4 bedroom duplex with guard quarters located at Plot 736, 7th Avenue Gwarimpa, FCT, Abuja.

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The money and properties are the product of illicit activities of a former Accountant General of the Federation, Jonah Otunla and Colonel Bello Fadile, aide to former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.

Moving a motion for the final forfeiture of the assets on Monday, counsel to the EFCC, Christopher Mshelia, informed the court that the assets recovered by the Commission in the course of investigating contract fraud in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Sambo Dasuki, were proceeds of the unlawful activities of Col. Fadile and Otunla.

The N775, 000,000 was refunded by Otunla and Otunba Ade Adelakun (late) during the investigation, whilst the landed properties sought to be forfeited are “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of an unlawful activity received, retained, concealed and converted by the respondents from the office of the National Security Adviser to the President.”

Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the Commission had on July 20, 2020 secured an interim forfeiture order on the assets and also published the Order of the court on August 11, 2022, for the respondent to show cause why the money and properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Justice Okorowo, in granting the final forfeiture, stated that the court was satisfied with the evidence before it and ordered the final forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The Star