Federal High Court in Lagos has on Tuesday ordered the interim forfeiture of funds and assets linked to Abidemi Ganiyu Rufai, suspended aide of Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, who is facing fraud charges in the United States.
It would be recalled that MDB reported how Rufaiwas arrested while trying to get out of the U.S. on May 14.
Read Also: Gov Dapo Abiodun’s Aide, Abidemi Rufai Arrested Over $350m COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud In US
He was accused of allegedly using the alias ‘Sandy Tang’ to obtain the identities of more than 100 Washington residents to steal more than $350,000 in unemployment benefits from Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) during COVID-19 pandemic last year.
Rufai has since been suspended by Governor Abiodun, who condemned the act alleged perpetuated by his aide.
Read Also: Ogun Governor Suspends Aide Arrested For Alleged Fraud In US
His assets affected by Tuesday’s interim forfeiture order, according to The Nation newspaper’s report, includes: House 11. Omodayo Awotuga Street, Bera Estate, Chevy View, Lekki, Lagos and funds in his accounts with two banks.
The newspaper reports that the judge, Tijjani Ringim, issued the order following ex parte application by Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC), Ebuka Okongwu.
His firm, Omo Mayodele Global Investment and Sterling Bank Plc were listed as 1st, 2nd and third respondents in the suit.
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The judge ruled;
I am satisfied by the averment in the affidavit deposed to by Usman Abdulhamid and the legal submission of the counsel that this application should succeed and same is accordingly granted as prayed.
The judge ordered EFCC to advertise the order in newspapers within 14 days from Tuesday for any interested party to show cause why the funds and assets should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
Okongwu furnished the judge with an affidavit sworn to by an EFCC investigator, Usman Abdulhamid, detailing the agency’s investigation of Rufai in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Read Also: US Says Surety Provided By Dapo Abiodun’s Aide, Abidemi Rufai Is A Suspected Fraudster
He argued that it was necessary for the court to grant the prayer of interim forfeiture to preserve the res and prevent further dissipation of the defendants’ funds in his Sterling Bank account.
Okongwu said Rufai already dissipated a suspicious N29.37million in tranches of N5m, N5m, N2,730,000, N1.1m, N2,040,000, N2m, N2m and N5m and they were warehoused in his accounts in three banks.
Ruling on EFCC’s application, Justice Ringim said;
I am satisfied by the averment in the affidavit deposed to by Usman Abdulhamid and the legal submission of the counsel that this application should succeed and same is accordingly granted as prayed.
EFCC was directed to publish the order within 14 days from Tuesday, August 31, for any interested party to show cause why the funds and properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The judge then adjourned the case till December 1, 2021, for interested parties to show cause.
