A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered final forfeiture to the Federal Government of 60 buildings illegally acquired by a former Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Adenike Ishola Bintu.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in a forfeiture proceeding, had approached Justice O. A. Egwuata, praying for an order for final forfeiture of the buildings and a 9.6 hectare plot of land, both located at Sabon-Lugbe South-West Extension, Airport Road, Abuja, alleged to have been acquired by Bintu through corrupt means.
Counsel to ICPC, John-Paul Okwor, told the court that the Commission was relying on Section 48 (1) (2) and (3) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, which gives it power to approach the courts to forfeit properties corruptly acquired by individuals.
Spokesperson, ICPC, Azuka Ogugua, said the anti-graft agency had argued before the court that the former NSCDC Deputy Commandant, set up a private company, Faith Winners Victory Properties Limited, through which she allegedly perpetrated the fraud by selling plots of land to unsuspecting members of the public.
The court heard that Bintu claimed that the land, which she used to dupe over 1000 people that subscribed to the estate business, was owned in partnership with NSCDC.
However, the subscribers, who made payments running into millions of naira, were never allocated plots of land. Their funds were not returned either.
Source: Guardian