Court orders forfeiture of N664.4m belonging to Clement Illoh

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*Federal High Court, Lagos

(Nigeria) A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of N664.475 million and $137,680.11 recovered from a serving Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr Clement Illoh.
Trial judge, Justice Abdulaziz Anka made the order  following an August 15, 2017 ex-parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The court also also authorised the EFCC to seize a property described as "Clement Illoh's Mansion" located at Ikom Quarters, Issala-Azegba in Delta State and a hotel at No. 19, Madue Nwafor Street, off Achala Ibuzo Road, Asaba, Delta State.
After granting the order, Justice Anka directed the EFCC to notify the Permanent Secretary, in whose possession the properties were found, to appear before the court and show cause within 14 days why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The judge also directed the publication of the interim orders in any national newspaper for any interested person to appear before the judge to show cause within 14 days why the order should not be made permanent.
He adjourned till September 6, for ruling.
Earlier, EFCC counsel told the court that both buildings belong to the permanent secretary and were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of stealing.
Oyedepo, in the application of August 15, 2017, persuaded the judge that if the matter was not "urgently determined during vacation, the assets will be dissipated."
He said the N664,475,246.6 consisted of N437,348,181.16, N97,300,613.44 found in Onubuogo's First Bank account No. 3033750243 and N129,826,452.00 found in the possession of 15 persons working under Onubuogo's supervision at the Ministry of Labour and Productivity.
The persons are Salisu Bala Kura, Rabiu Said, Tonye Isokeiri, Buhari Maaji Dahiru, John Isokwa Kanku, Ahmed Mahmud Muazu, Muktar Sufian, Udoh Nnamdi, Umar Bello Mashi, Salogu Karo, Usman Bello, Ahmed Mohammed Makki, Umar Abubakar, Aliyu Abubakar and Enape Victoria.
EFCC investigator, Huleji Abraham Tukura in a six-page affidavit, averred that Onubuogo converted the funds from the N10billion released by the Federal Government during his supervision of the Subsidy Reinvestment (SURE-P) programme.
Tukura averred that  "Out of the N10b, we have traced a total sum of N876,981,225.05 to the respondent which he converted to his personal gain.
"The respondent, from the fictitious and fraudulent contracts to his company Clement & Bob Associate, fraudulently enriched himself to the tune of N94,829,845.60 which were funds meant for SURE-P Technical Vocational Training Programme.
"He also used his position to receive kickback/gratification from the various contractors under the SURE-P programme using his staff and front companies."
According to him, Onubuogo, from kickbacks received, paid N81,110,250 and N600,000 (N1023,200,000) into his company's Zenith Bank account No. 1013449507 using fictitious names.
In another instance, Onubuogo was alleged to have received N37,803,000 "which was diverted through Agoha Joseph Emeka, a staff of the Federal Ministry of Labour and employment for his personal gain."
Other sums allegedly converted and laundered included N159,770,383.45 through his Zenith Bank account, N123,000,000 "fraudulently concealed" through his undeclared Access Bank account among others.


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