The Anti-Corruption fight led by the Buhari led APC administration, scored a win as two military officers and three companies have been ordered to temporarily forfeit the sum of N200 million Naira by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the said sum was fraudulently warehoused in certain commercial banks by said Military officers and three companies allegedly owned by the accused officers.
The EFCC further alleged that the money was fraudulently withdrawn from the Defence Headquarters Over-Head Expenses Accounts by both officers identified as Adamu Bello Argungu and John Onimisi Ozigi, while the companies involved are Falsal & Co Global Services Nigeria Limited; Diamond Head Ventures & Development Company Limited; and Sweetex Bureau De Change Limited.
Justice Muslim Sule Hassan who presided over the court made the order for the temporary forfeiture after submissions were made by Mr. Nkereuwem Mark Anana, the EFCC lawyer, who moved an exparte application for the order.
The EFCC in an affidavit sworn to by one of its operatives, Clever Ibrahim, alleged that the two military officers, Adamu Bello Argungu and John Onimisi Ozigi are officers of the Nigerian Army and Air Force respectively. The EFCC operative also alleged that the officers had made several unauthorised withdrawals from the Defence Headquarters Overhead Expenses Account.
The EFCC continued with the allegations stating that the said money was not deposited either in their salary accounts or any of the accounts belonging to the Defence headquarters, but was deposited in corporate accounts as well as other accounts belonging to the companies allegedly owned by the Officers in question.
He also stated that though, a ‘post-no-debit’ has been placed on the accounts in accordance with the provisions of section 6(5) of the Money Laundering and Prohibition Act, 2011, which had lapsed after 72 hours, the order of the interim forfeiture of the money was sought to debar the respondents from tampering with it.
The Presidency and the EFCC have been under pressure by Nigerians and the international community who feel the government has not been doing enough to fight corruption. Most people allege that the anti-corruption agencies are being used as tools to settle political scores and hunt perceived political enemies instead.
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