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A former bank director, Dauda Lawal, has asked the Court of Appeal in Lagos to order the Federal Government to return to him the N9.8 billion he forfeited to her on February 16, 2017, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) claimed was part of the forfeited N23.4 billion and $5 million (about N34 billion in total) linked to former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Lawal told the court that the Federal High Court, Lagos, which ordered the forfeiture of the money, had no jurisdiction to do so.
Justice Muslim Hassan on February 16, 2017 ordered the final forfeiture of the funds after no one showed up to make legitimate claims to the funds.
In his notice of appeal, Lawal, who contended that the judge erred in law, averred that the forfeited N9.08 billion was not found in his possession.
According to him, the money was borrowed on his behalf by family/friends whilst he was in EFCC custody.He said that his failure to appeal within time was due to his “apprehension that if he challenged the judgment while the investigation was ongoing, the appellant will be further detained by the EFCC.
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