A Federal High Court in Abuja today Friday , July 5, 2024 ordered the final forfeiture of at least 20 properties linked to the convicted former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a judgment, held that the EFCC had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt that the properties located in different parts of the country were acquired illegally.The judge also held that the “various individuals, who responded to an earlier interim forfeiture order, requiring interested parties to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited, failed to establish their ownership of the affected properties with credible evidence.”
The anti-graft agency had earlier obtained an order of interim forfeiture of 23 properties linked to Mr Maina. who is currently serving an eight-year jail term for pension fraud amounting to N2 billion.
Maina’s wife, Laila, who claimed to be a citizen of the United States, and some of his relatives and associates, including Uwani Usman, Aminu Wambai, Haruna Musa and Aliyu Abdullahi, had claimed ownership of the 23 properties. Delivering the judgment on Thursday, Justice Abdulmalik agreed with the EFCC’s lawyer, Farouk Abdullah, that those who claimed to own the property failed to effectively establish the alleged ownership by producing credible evidence.
The affected properties are located in Abuja, Nasarawa State, Kaduna State and Kano State.
They include “Plot No: 965 Gwarimpa 1 District, Cadastral Zone: CO2, covered by C of O No: 1afew-fe28z-63a5r-e36eu-10.
“Duplex located at No: 16 A Katuru Road, Kaduna.
“52B, SMC Quarters, Unguwan Dosa, Lot 016, comprising of 3 bedroom semi-detached bungalow.
“Property at Tola Street, Badarawa, Kaduna, comprising three bedrooms and an undeveloped land.
Plot Y12, Kano Street, Kawo New Extension, Kaduna.
“A duplex located at No: 21, 52 Crescent, Kubwa Phase 1V estate
“House 8, 211 Road, a close numbered FHA/EST/264/TA/032.l, 3 bedrooms bungalow.
*Farm at Dorawa, Karshi Development Area, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.
“Another farm at Dorawa, Karshi Development Area, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.
“Plot 3A, Sambo Road, Unguwan Rimi, covered by C of O No: KD15452.
“Plot MF-27A, New Pasafi Layout, Kuje, Abuja.
“Plot 1B Ajayi Road, Unguwan Rimi, covered by C of O numbered: NC24059
“Block 23 Flat 2 located at Life Camp (2 bedroom semi-detached.
“Property at No: 62 A/C Maternity ward, Damaturu Road, Biu
“Plot 3A, Sambo Road, Unguwan Rimi covered by C of O No: KD15452 comprising of uncompleted buildings.
Plot covered by C of O B426 beacon: B5086; B5087; B5105; B5104; B5099 at Cadastral Zone B05, Utako.
“No: 16 Dabai Road, off Mangoro Road, Sokoto State.
“No. 13 Korau Road, Nasarawa District, Kano.
“Plot 965 Cadastral Zone C02, Gwarimpa, FCT, Abuja.”
(NAN)