By Yetunde Ayobami Ojo
Seven properties linked to the former staff member of First Bank, Tijani Adeyinka has been ordered by a Federal High Court, Lagos, to be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Justice Dehinde Dipeolu made the order following a motion on notice filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel, Zeenat Atiku.

The properties are: Plot 9, Block 28 Itunu City, Veritas Homes & Properties Limited, Aiyetoro, Epe Lagos State; a three-bedroom flat described as Block A, Floor 6, Flat 2 (Block A/6/2) Le Moriah Residences Estate, Off Kusenla Road, Ikate Ancient City, Lekki Penninsula, Eti-Osa LGA, Lagos State; a parcel of land known as Block L1, Plot 13, Amen Estate, Phase Ill Extension, Abomiti Zone, Lekki/Epe Express Way Epe LGA, Lagos State; a parcel of land known as Block 3, Plot 13, Arizon Estate, within Idera Scheme Allocation via Eleko Junction Ibeju-Lekki LGA.

Also, one plot of land within Arizone Estate, Idera Scheme, Ibeju-Lekki LGA and one plot of land within Itunu Residential Aiyetoro, Ibeju-Lekki LGA; a parcel of land known as Plot 7, Block 4 Itunu City, Veritas Homes & Properties Ltd, Aiyetoro Epe LGA, Lagos; a parcel of land known as Plot 1, Ido Gwari 2 Extension, within Ochacho Real Homes, Ido-Gwari 2 Extension, Life Camp, Abuja and a parcel of land known as Block Q, Plot 25, Tiara by Amen City Limited, Along Lekki/Epe Express Way, Yeguda Resettlement Scheme, Epe Lagos State.

The judge had earlier ordered the interim forfeiture of the properties and also ordered the publication of the said order in a national newspaper for any interested parties to show why the properties should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.

However, the EFCC said no one showed up, prompting its prosecutor, Atiku, to move the application for the final forfeiture. Atiku told the court that “no one showed cause within the 14-day window granted after the publication.”

Her application was supported by an affidavit deposed to by Isah Yusuf Nadabo, an operative of the EFCC. In the affidavit, Nadabo told the court that Tijani worked at the Settlement Office of the bank and had the capacity to carry out some inalienable access available only to the office. “He, therefore, carried out illegal, unauthorised and fraudulent activities against First Bank Nigeria Plc.,” he swore.

According to him, investigation revealed and traced the sum of N35 billion that the suspect fleeced with his cronies. Atiku, therefore, informed the court that the properties were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.

After listening to the EFCC’s counsel, Justice Dipeolu held that he found merit in the argument of the applicant and ordered the final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.