A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has ordered the interim forfeiture of all property linked to Anthony Hassan, a former Director of Finance in the Federal Ministry of Health.
The former Finance Director is suspected by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to have build the NOK University, Kaduna, and acquired other property through proceeds of crime traced to him.
Hassan, who was a Director in the ministry between 2016 and 2019 allegedly built the University through fraudulent means.
Other properties traced to him, which are to be forfeited in the interim are: Gwasmyen Water Factory, Gwasmyen Event Center and Gwasmyen International Hotel in Kaduna.
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Justice Zainab Abubakar, gave the interim forfeiture order while ruling on a motion ex-parte filed by the Commission.
Counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Ekele Iheanacho told the court that the commission sought the order “pursuant to Section 44(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006 and under the inherent Jurisdiction of the Honorable Court.
The Commission through her investigative Officer, Adaora Asabe Oragudosi investigated some verified intelligence bordering on criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering against some staff of the Federal Ministry of Health where the properties ordered forfeited were traced to the defendant.
In the ruling, the court directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in the national dailies, alerting anyone with interest in the properties to show cause, within 14 days, why it should not be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Justice Abubakar thereafter adjourned till October 5, 2022, for mention of the matter.
