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Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of N293m, Lands Recovered From Former JTF Commander

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A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of N293 million, six parcels of land and 30,000 MTN shares recovered from a former Commander of the Military Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, in the Niger Delta Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe (retd).

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on Friday made an order for the permanent forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

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The EFCC lead counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), had brought the application before the court, for the final forfeiture of the assets without conviction pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act 2006, and Section 44 (2b) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).

Since 2016, the EFCC has been prosecuting Atewe alongside a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi; Kime Engozu; and Josephine Otuaga.

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They were all accused of conspiring to divert the sum of N8.5 billion for the military Operation Pulo Shield in the Niger Delta.

In March 2020, Justice Mohammed Liman had ordered the interim forfeiture of the assets following an ex parte application by the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo.

Oyedepo had told the court that the assets sought to be forfeited were part of the proceeds of N8.5 billion which Atewe allegedly diverted from the military operation between September 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015.

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The landed properties were identified as 50 hectares of farmland at Plot No. FL746B Gaube Farmland Extension II Layout, Kuje, Abuja; a piece of land located at Commercial Layout, Yenagoa Gardens, Bayelsa State; 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; and four hectares of land designated as Plot No.CP6386 and Plot No.CP6387, Sabon Lugbe, Abuja.

READ ALSO: Sudan Crisis: Conflicting Sides Set For face-to-face Saudi Arabia Talks

An investigating officer of the EFCC, Adamu Yusuf, said Atewe purchased the 30,000 MTN shares for N170,350,000.

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The EFCC counsel said it would be in the interest of justice for the court to order the temporary forfeiture of the assets.

After listening to him, Justice Liman granted the prayers and ordered that the temporary forfeiture order be published in a national newspaper.

The judge adjourned till April 20 for anyone interested in the assets to appear before him to show reasons why they should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

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Metro

Four Die As Bomb Explosion Rocks Borno

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Photo: File copy

A bomb explosion has reportedly killed four travellers in Borno State, with many others sustaining injuries.

According to reports by local media, the bomb exploded around 3:00 pm on Wednesday along the Damboa-Maiduguri road.

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The incident involved a car carrying an unconfirmed number of passengers.

READ ALSO:Gas Explosion Kills Two, Injures Six In Anambra Market

DAILY POST reports that bomb explosions also occurred a few weeks ago along Damboa-Maiduguri road, killing seven people.

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The road is one of the major routes for terrorists, who often plant bombs to discourage other users.

Security authorities are yet to confirm the incident at the time of filing this report.

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JUST IN: Many Killed As Soldiers, Bandits Exchange Gunfire In Kaduna

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Scores of bandits and some military personnel have been killed following a gun battle in Niger and Kaduna States.

Nigerian Army Headquarters made the disclosure in a statement posted on its official X handle on Wednesday.

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The statement said the operations were carried out in Kwanar Dutse Mairiga and Boka, Niger State, and Aungwan Turai, Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.

The daredevil terrorists had launched an unprovoked attack on the aforementioned areas.

REAS ALSO:Police Neutralise Bandit, Rescue 5 Kidnapped Victims In Katsina

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According to the statement, in response to the attacks, “land and air component troops launched several counter-attacks that eliminated scores of bandits in the encounters.

“Sadly, some gallant warriors paid the supreme price in the day-long battles, while four wounded in-action troops are currently receiving treatment for their gunshot wounds. Additional updates later.”

 

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Police Detain 3 Nsukka Masqueraders For Allegedly Assaulting Residents

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The police command in Enugu State has detained three masqueraders in the Nsukka area of the state for allegedly assaulting law-abiding citizens.

The command’s spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement in Enugu on Tuesday that police operatives, with the assistance of members of the community, led to the arrest of the suspects on June 23 at 3:30 p.m.

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He said that the arrest of the suspects was in connection with the alleged physical assault of citizens by the ‘Oriokpa’ Masquerade group on June 22 as seen in a viral video.

READ ALSO: Enugu To Regulate Native Doctors, Herbalists

The suspects, along with others still at large, took advantage of the ‘Oriokpa’ Masquerade celebration to assault several innocent members of the public, inflicting bodily injuries on them.

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“One of the victims was hospitalised for treatment due to injuries sustained during the attack.

“The masqueraders initially resisted police arrest and fled the scene.

“However, with the assistance of law-abiding community members, the three suspects were later identified and apprehended,” he said.

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READ ALSO: Police Rescue Robbery Suspect From Irate Mob, Recover Pistol In Enugu

The spokesman said that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, had ordered a thorough investigation into the case to ensure that justice was served.

Ndukwe quoted the commissioner as saying that masquerade celebration was a sacred and symbolic aspect of the nation’s culture.

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He said that the state police chief, however, decried the actions of those who exploited the occasion to commit criminal acts.

Ndukwe said that the commissioner warned against the use of cultural festivities as a cover for fomenting trouble and committing crimes against fellow citizens, as perpetrated by the ‘Oriokpa’ masqueraders.

The command is assuring the public that all those involved in the assault of law-abiding citizens will be brought to justice,” he added.

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(NAN)

 

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