Court Orders Ex-Lagos Director Final Forfeiture of N28.5m, Houses to FG

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of the sums of N28 5million, houses, and a plots of land acquired with the proceed of an unlawful activities by Alade Anifowose who was a Director of Finance in the Public Work Corporation in the Lagos State Civil Service.

While delivering his ruling yesterday, Justice Rilwan Aikawa held that the applicant, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has shown reasonable cause that the funds and properties were proceeds of unlawful activities.
“The grounds for forfeiture are reasonable suspicion and nor beyond reasonable doubt,” the judge.

Anifowoshe, a Director in the Public Works Corporation of the Lagos State government, was accused of using his position to unlawfully enrich himself.

The properties he acquired, according to the EFCC, included six flats of three-bedroom apartments, six flats of two-bedroom apartments, and six flats of one-bedroom apartments on Adewale Osiyeku Street, Offin-Ile Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

Others are four sets of three-bedroom duplexes at No. 6, Tunde Gabby Close, Dopemu Area, Pako Bus Stop, Agege, Lagos State; as well as a semi-detached three bedroom flat and a unit of three-bedroom terrace at Cranbel Court, Citiview Estate Arepo Ogun State.
Also included is a plot of land at Queen’s Garden Estate off Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

In December, both the federal and Lagos State governments had laid claim to the properties, with the latter stating that Anifowoshe was its employee.

While giving the order for the final forfeiture ywesterday, the judge also ruled that the federal government “should take such administrative steps to ensure that the funds and properties are transmitted to the Lagos State government “in view of the evidence before me.”