A Federal High Court, sitting in Ilorin, on Tuesday ordered the final forfeiture of a truck and its consignment of assorted solid minerals, arrested in Kwara State to the federal government.
Justice Ariwoola gave the order while delivering ruling on the application filed by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson of the anti-graft agency said in a statement.
The Court said said the applicant convinced the court as to why the consignment in truck should be forfeited to the federal government.
In moving the application, counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola said, “My lord, our application is seeking a final order of this Honourable Court, forfeiting to the federal government of Nigeria the truck with registration number, PKA216YR with minerals contained therein, which came into possession of the operatives of the applicant as unclaimed property.”
The counsel said that the applicant relied on the provisions of Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14, 2006 and Section 44(2) B of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In a 17 paragraphs affidavit in support of the motion, which was deposed to by Jesse Chong, an operative of the EFCC, he revealed that “Sometime in June, 2024, the applicant gathered intelligence to the effect that some individuals were involved in illegal mining, purchase and possession of solid minerals within Kwara State.”
He further revealed that the owner of the truck and 30 tons of solid minerals contained therein have refused to show up for investigation even after the interim order granted by the court was advertised on Leadership Newspaper.
Justice Ariwoola in his ruling said the applicant has provided sufficient reasons for the said truck to be forfeited and granted the application of the Commission as prayed.