The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, arraigned Benjamin Okoye, Moughalu David Arinze, Okey Okeke, Ekene Mgbeokwere and Eboh Thaddeus on a one-count charge bordering on alleged tampering with a forfeited property before Justice A.O.Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The count reads: “That you, Ilongwo Angela (NOW AT LARGE), Benjamin Okoye, Moughalu David Arinze, Okey Okeke, Ekene Mgbeokwere, Eboh Thaddeus, sometime in July, 2024 in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without due authorization dealt, with the property of Obinna Ezenwaka situate and located at Plot 165C, Block 12, Amuwo Odofin, Ajayi Street, Diamond Estate, Amuwo Odofin Lagos, subject of interim forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 32(1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.”
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charge preferred against them.
In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Hannatu .U. KofarNaisa, informed the court of the presence of a witness and that he was ready to proceed with the trial.
Counsel to the first to fourth defendants, M.C. Odo informed the court of pending bail applications for the defendants and also prayed the court to move the same. Counsel to fifth defendant, N. Chukwuemeka, informed the court of the existing bail previously granted to the defendant.
Odo further prayed the court to admit the defendants to bail, adding that they had been in prison custody for some time. However, KofarNaisa, in response,
informed the court that she had not received the bail applications being moved by the counsel to the first to fourth defendants and that it was not before the court.
The court confirmed it was not in its record.
After listening to both parties, Justice Owoeye fixed January 24, 2025 for ruling on the bail applications by the defence counsel.
Thereafter, the prosecution counsel called on Abubarkar Mohammed, an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the case. Mohammed told the court that he works as the custodian of assets in interim or final forfeiture with the EFCC.
When asked by the prosecution counsel if he knew defendants, he answered in the affirmative. According to him, “I met them during the inspection of Plot 165c, Block 12, Diamond Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State.
“The EFCC had obtained an interim order of the property. The Proceeds of Crime Management Unit that takes care of forfeited assets went to mark the property, with the EFCC written on it.
“On July 22, 2024, I led a team to inspect the property and met the defendants there. I informed them that the property had been forfeited in the interim and also asked them to leave.”
Continuing , he said: “They left after much hassle and the house was put under lock and key.
“Unfortunately, on July 29, 2024 , while conducting a routine research, I found out that they had broken the padlock and were still living in the property.” He further told the court that the defendants were subsequently arrested for tampering with the forfeited assets.
Mohammed, thereafter, identified the interim forfeiture order secured by the EFCC on October 6, 2017 in respect of the property .
Counsel to the prosecution sought to tender the interim order as an exhibit and it was admitted and marked as exhibit A. When asked to give further testimony about the property, he said there was an order of notification from the Lagos State High court on the final forfeiture of the property.
KofarNaisa asked for an adjournment to enable her to bring documents before the court.
Justice Owoeye adjourned till February 14, 2025 for continuation of trial.
