By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Funds worth over N270 million stashed in Zenith Bank and Polaris Bank linked to a former Governor have been forfeited to the federal government.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday said since the former Governor of Zamfara State, Mr Abdulaziz Yari, could not prove how he got the money legitimately, it should be lost to the national government.
Mr Yari, 52, governed Zamfara State for eights years between 2011 and 2019.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said while Mr Yari was in charge of the northern state, he used his position to siphon funds, seeking the request of the court to recover the money via a suit FHC/ABJ/CS/916/2019.
In August 2019, the court had granted an order for interim forfeiture of the assets of the former Governor, asking Mr Yari to explain why the money found in his accounts should not be finally forfeited to the federal government.
At the court yesterday, Justice Ojukwu held that the former Governor could not prove how he got the funds, querying how one of the companies’ bank accounts grew from zero to $301,319 at the end of his tenure.
The judge explained that there is nothing wrong in having huge sums of money in one’s account, but according to the law, such proceeds should emanate from legitimate sources or businesses.
“The respondents, who have been given an opportunity to tell their story, have failed to provide evidence for such legitimate income.
“The respondents have not countered the case and facts presented by the applicants (ICPC).
“The respondents, having failed to establish the legitimate source of the money as stated in this case, this honourable court hereby makes an order of final forfeiture of the following:
“An order of final forfeiture of N12,912,848.68, being proceeds of some unlawful activity stashed in the name of Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari.
“An order of final forfeiture of $57,056.75, being proceeds of some unlawful activity stashed in an account number …in the name of Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari.
“An order of forfeiture of N11,159,674.17, being proceeds stashed in an account in the name of Kayatawa Nigeria Limited.
“An order of final forfeiture of $319,000.91, being proceed of some unlawful activity stashed in the name of Kayatawa Nigeria Limited.
“An order of final forfeiture of N217,000.04, being proceeds of some unlawful activity allegedly stashed in the name of B. T. Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.
“An order of final forfeiture of $311,817.15, being proceeds of some unlawful activity stashed in the name of BT. Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited,” the judge held.
