COURT ORDERS FINAL FORFEITURE OF 22 LAGOS LANDED PROPERTIES TO FG
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By Adeniyi Onaara
On Wednesday, the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja ordered that 22 landed properties in various sections of Lagos State be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.
In two distinct judgements on procedures to show cause brought by two interested parties, Justice Inyang Ekwo found that the Federal Government’s case succeeded on merit.
According to a source, Justice Ekwo granted the interim forfeiture application on such assets on November 16, 2021.
However, the Lagos Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, and the Onikoyi of Lagos, Oba Patrick Ibikunle Fafunwa, had submitted applications to show cause why the property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The Lagos government and the traditional ruler, in their preliminary objections, urged the court to strike out the suit for want of jurisdiction.
Delivering the rulings in the applications, Justice Ekwo held that the Federal Government’s case succeeded on merit.
He claimed that the case made in the respondents’ affidavits to show cause, while unsubstantiated, was presented in ill faith.
He stated that the respondents’ argument failed because to a lack of valid evidence to substantiate the statements made in the affidavits to show cause.
The judge stated that he could not find anything in the affidavits of the respondents that disputed the applicant’s allegation (Federal Government).
“The law requires that where facts attested to in an affidavit are not disputed, such facts be accepted as true,” he stated.
As a result, Judge Ekwo directed that all of the property stated on the face of the motion on notice be forfeited to the Federal Government.
He also issued an order authorizing the applicant to auction/use/convert to public use/enter into any treaty or partnership with a private organization or in any other way that it deems fit to members of the public.
The judge, who granted the applicant the right to appoint “a certified surveyor or any other person or agency/body as may be deemed fit to, inter alia, determine or ascertain the value of the properties,” also ordered that all proceeds from the sale or disposal of the property be remitted to designated Federal Government accounts.
The landed property include an approximately 4.222 square meter in Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1 Beside the Substation; approximately 1.700 sq. Meters with Twin Duplex Uncompleted in Victoria Gardens City (VGC) Estate; No. 2a /2b Kuramo Close Ikoyi, Lagos State.
It also include a Warehouse at Wharf Road Apapa; property along Murtala Mohammed Airport beside MM2 Building, Domestic Wing of Airport Transit/Protocol Office, Ikeja; empty fenced land at No. 13b McDonald Road Ikoyi; No. 20 Gerrard |koyi, Lagos State;
Also forfeited are Plot 001 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State; No.3 Macpherson Ikoyi, Lagos State; Two Bedrooms Flat F at Block 25, Ladoke Akintola Street; One Duplex Property at No. 11, Alexander Avenue, Ikoyi; Plot 24/25 Sango House, Marina, Lagos; No. 32, Queens Drive Ikoyi, Lagos State and detached Storey House of four-Bedroom with three rooms BQ at Block 11, ljora Staff Quarters, Ijora G.R.A, among others.
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