Ministry’s ex-director forfeits varsity, Three other investments to FG
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, issued an order of final forfeiture of all assets of a private university, NOK University, in Kaduna State, to the Federal Government.
The physical assets of the university to be forfeited include the Senate building, ICT building, Faculty of Medicine building, Science Deanery building, two Academic buildings, a Faculty Hall and other buildings.
Justice Abdulmalik, made the pronouncement while delivering a judgment in a suit brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, against the defendant, Anthony Hassan.
EFCC had brought the matter before the court for final forfeiture as the court had in 2022 granted an interim forfeiture order on the assets.
Justice Abdulmalik held that the EFCC, through its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, was able to convince the court beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant acquired the assets with proceeds of crime.
Hassan, the promoter of the university, alongside losing the private institution to the Federal Government, will also forfeit three other investments – Gwasmyen Water Factory, Gwasmyen International Hotel and Gwasmyen Event Centre all located in Kaduna.
Justice Abdulmalik in her judgment held that Hassan, a former Director of Finance and Accounts in the Federal Ministry of Health, failed to prove or convince the court that the assets were not acquired with proceeds of crime.
The court refused to accept Hassan and his company, KYC Inter-Project Limited”s claims that the assets were acquired with funds sourced from investors.
The judge also rejected the claim by one Victor Olisah that he owned the six plots of land on which Gwasmyen International Hotel was erected, on the grounds that he failed to establish his ownership of the land with credible evidence.
The judge held that Hassan and KYC failed woefully to show cogent documentary of events and financial trails of how they sourced funds to acquire the assets.
