Minna high court orders the seizure of two properties and several jeeps belonging to Babangida

FORMER Niger State governor Dr Babangida Aliyu has had two properties and several jeeps seized from him after a federal high court in Minna ordered the interim forfeiture of the assets following an application by the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC).

As parts of its ongoing war against corruption, the EFCC had dragged Dr Aliyu to court, claiming he bought them with wealth belonging to the Niger State government. In his ruling, Justice Yellim Bogoro ordered that the assets would remain temporarily forfeited to the federal government pending the trial of Dr Aliyu and his co-defendant Umar Nasko.

After hearing the EFCC lawyer Ben Ikani, who moved the application for the interim forfeiture of Dr Aliyu’s assets, Justice Bogoro made among others, an order granting the EFCC chairman or any officer authorised by him for the interim forfeiture of two duplexes along Peter Saki Street, Minna, Niger State, belonging to Dr Aliyu, pending the hearing and determination of this criminal suit instituted against him. In addition, the judge also made a similar order for the interim forfeiture of a farmland containing a 12-room chalet and four resort buildings located at Birgi Minna, Niger State, belonging to Dr Aliyu.

In addition, she also ordered the interim forfeiture of one Toyota Prado Jeep, one Lexus and two Toyota Land Cruiser Jeeps, which the former governor, allegedly acquired with unlawful proceeds and public funds. Furthermore, the  judge also ordered the interim forfeiture of the sum of N57m recovered from Umar Mohammed, the second defendant and directed that the money be paid into the commission’s recovery account with the Central Bank of Nigeria.