NDDC ex-director forfeits N846m properties to FG

A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the temporary forfeiture of four landed properties linked to a former Executive Director, Projects, Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr. Tuoyo Omatsuli.

The four properties, located in highbrow Lekki Peninsula Scheme area of Lagos, were valued at N846.03m.

Justice Chuka Obiozor made the order yesterday following an ex parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC through its counsel Mr Ekene Iheanacho said the properties were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.

In an affidavit deposed to by one of its investigators, Adamu Yusuf, the EFCC said Omatsuli received a bribe of N3,645,000,000 from a consultant to the NDDC, Starline Consultancy Services Limited.

The anti-graft agency presented a table showing that Omatsuli allegedly received kickbacks 11 times between August 28, 2014 and September 8, 2015 from Starline Consultancy Services Limited.

Justice Obiozor directed the anti-graft agency to publish the court’s order in a national daily. He also adjourned the case to June 19, 2018 for anyone interested in the properties to show up in court to convince him why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.