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Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of Over $2.7m Diezani’s Abuja Homes, Cars

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Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Abuja Monday ordered the final forfeiture of two Abuja property and two luxury cars belonging to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to the Federal Government.

The judge gave the order forfeiting the assets to the federal government while ruling on the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Suit No. 1122/2021 and Suit No 1123/2021, asking for the final forfeiture of the assets.

The Commission had on November 29, 2021, secured the interim forfeiture of the assets in a ruling on a separate motion ex-parte, filed on September 27, 2021, which prayed the court to order the interim forfeiture of the assets on the grounds of reasonable suspicion that they were proceeds of unlawful activities.

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The two property are located at Plot 1854 Mohammed Mahashir Street, and No. 6, Aso Drive, in the highbrow Asokoro and Maitama Districts of Abuja and are valued at $2,674,418USD and N380, 000,000 respectively.

The luxury cars are a black BMW saloon with Chassis No B8CV54V66629 and registered number, RBC155 DH and a black Jaguar saloon car with Chassis No SAJAA.20 GRDMv43376, valued at N36,000,000.

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In granting the interim forfeiture Order, Justice Olajuwon had ordered the EFCC to publish a notice in a national newspaper, inviting anyone with interest in the assets to show cause why they should not be finally forfeited to the federal government.

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The court consequently adjourned till January 22, 2022, for a report.

In compliance with the Order of the Court, the Forfeiture Order was published in Thisday Newspaper of Wednesday, April 6, 2022.

In the absence of any contestation of the Interim Order, the Court, today, forfeited the property to the federal government.

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PHOTOS/VIDEO: Prince Harry, Meghan Visit Sanwo-Olu

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrived at the Lagos House Marina, on a courtesy visit to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday.

The couple were received by Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu and others at the State House, Marina.

This Visit is mainly to promote the Invictus Games, founded in 2014 by Prince Harry.

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READ ALSO: Duchess Of Sussex Gets Nigerian Name, Excited About Her Heritage

The Invictus Games is aimed at helping currently serving members of the Military as well as veterans in overcoming their physical or mental health illness or injury, which eventually helps them develop a sense of belonging and increased self-esteem.

The British Royal couple arrived in Lagos on Sunday in what is the last lap of their three-day visit to Nigeria.

The couple, who have been in the country since Friday, have earlier attended several events in Abuja and Kaduna.

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Addressing the press while welcoming the couple at the State House, Marina, Sanwo-Olu hailed Prince Harry and Meghan for the work they are doing with Nigeria’s military men, especially on issues around mental health.

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Court Convicts Mother Of 5 For Forging Late Abba Kyari’s Signature

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A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwagwalada, Abuja has found guilty and convicted one Mrs. Ramat Mercy Mba, a mother of five children guilty of forging the signature of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, the late Abba Kyari.

The presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad however deferred the sentencing of the convict till Thursday, 16th of May, 2024 but directed that she should be remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had arraigned Mba in June, 2022 on a 5-count charge bordering on cheating, fraud and forgery contrary to Section 13 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 200 and Sections 320 (b), 366 of the Penal Code Cap 89 laws of Northern Nigeria.

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One of the counts read: “THAT you RAMAT MERCY MBA (F) sometimes in the month of October, 2019 or thereabout at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently induce one Mr. Ismail Adewole Oladipupo, an unsuspecting job seeker and collected the sum of Seven Hundred Thousand Naira only N700,000.00 from him which sum was paid into your private account under the guise of securing employment for him at the National Space Research and Development Agency.

“(NASDRA), AND you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320(b) and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Cap 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria.”

In the course of the trial, ICPC’s Prosecutor, Mr. Hamza Sani, Esq. led evidence before the court on how the convict dishonestly induced her victims in the guise of securing employment for them with government agencies like Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), National Space Research Development Agency (NASRDA) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

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Furthermore, the documentary evidence tendered showed that the convict fraudulently forged a letterhead paper of the Office of the Chief of Staff to former President Muhammad Buhari, Abba Kyari and his signature.

The letter, addressed to the Chairman of ICPC was a request for the recruitment of three individuals by the Commission.

However, the late Chief of Staff, in a written correspondence that was also tendered in court as exhibit distanced himself or his office for authorising the letter.

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In his judgement, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad convicted the mother of five children on counts 1, 2, 3 and 5 that borders on cheating and forgery while she was discharged on count 4 that bordered on felony.

 

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Duchess Of Sussex Gets Nigerian Name, Excited About Her Heritage

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Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has expressed excitement after finding out through a genealogy test about her Nigerian heritage.

The Duchess said it’s been “humbling” to find out that she is partly a Nigerian as she met with women in in Abuja.

Meghan, on her second day in Nigeria, where she is visiting for the first time with Prince Harry to promote mental health for wounded soldiers and young girls, acknowledged Nigeria as her country.

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She said, “It’s been eye-opening to be able to know more about my heritage.”

“Never in a million years would I understand it as much as I do now. And what has been echoed so much in the past day is, ’Oh, we are not so surprised when we found out you are Nigerian,” she said an the event on women in leadership which had Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Mo Abudu, amongst several other dignitaries.

“It is a compliment to you because what they define as a Nigerian woman is brave, resilient, courageous, beautiful,” Meghan told the audience.

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Her first reaction after finding out was to tell her mother, she said at the event in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. “Being African American, part of it is really not knowing so much about your lineage and background … and it was exciting for both of us,” she said.

Mo Abudu, the anchor and chief executive of EbonyLife media group, then asked the audience to suggest a Nigerian name for Meghan.

“Ifeoma,” someone shouted from the excited crowd, a name from Nigeria’s Igbo tribe which means ‘a treasured thing.’ “Omowale” another suggested, from the Yoruba tribe, which means ‘the child has come home.’

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