A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Nigeria, has granted an interim forfeiture order on 23 properties traced to the former chairman of Pension Reform Task Team, Abdurasheed Maina.
Presiding judge, Justice Folasade Giwa-Ogunbanjo granted the order on Tuesday after hearing an ex-parte motion brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Moving the ex-parte motion, the EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, alleged that the properties in question were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities traced to Maina and his associates.
The court also gave an order directing the publication of the order of interim forfeiture in a national daily newspaper.
Abubakar said the newspaper publication was aimed at inviting any person or body with interest in the assets and properties listed in the schedule to show cause within 14 days of such publication why a final order of forfeiture of the said assets and properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria should not be made.
The matter was adjourned till November 19 for mention.