Court Orders Forfeiture Of Alleged Drug Baron’s Property To FG

Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court successful Lagos has ordered the impermanent forfeiture of a multimillion-naira spot allegedly acquired done the proceeds of cause trafficking to the national government.

The justice ordered the seizure of the spot located astatine 14 Okechukwu Madueke Street, Star-Times Estate, Okota, Lagos State, aft entertaining a question ex parte filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

The bureau had told the tribunal that the spot is suspected to beryllium the proceeds of unlawful activities related to the trafficking of 49.70 kilograms of heroin.

The NDLEA lawyer, Abu had informed the tribunal that the question was based connected Section 44 (2)(b) & (k) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and Sections 7, 9, 10, and 12 of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022, on with the court’s inherent jurisdiction preserved nether Section 6(6)(a) of the Constitution.

Ibrahim besides narrated to the justice however a freight cause moving with Matt Pee Logistics Company was arrested with 49.70 kilograms of heroin concealed successful cutting machines.

He claimed that a further probe conducted by the NDLEA allegedly implicated 1 Chidibest Ibewuike arsenic portion of the syndicate progressive successful the cause importation.

The lawyer besides alleged that Ibewuike has been astatine ample since February 10, 2024, and each efforts to find him person been unsuccessful.

Ibrahim besides told the tribunal that the existent ownership of the disputed spot remains unknown. Still, it is reasonably suspected to person been derived from unlawful activities related to cause trafficking.

He truthful urged the tribunal to assistance the exertion to alteration immoderate idiosyncratic funny successful it to look successful tribunal and amusement origin wherefore it should not beryllium yet forfeited to the national authorities of Nigeria.

After listening to him, Justice Kakaki held that the exertion had merit and granted it arsenic prayed.

The justice held, “The spot situated astatine 14, Okechukwu Madueke Street, Star-Times Estate, Okota, Lagos State, is forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria successful the interim.

The tribunal thereafter adjourned the substance to November 17 for further hearing.