Police Secure Court Order To Seize Properties Linked To Crime Proceeds In Kaduna, Jigawa
The IGP in the application filed through one Idris A. Mohammed Esq, a police counsel had told the court that the properties under schedule were procured through unlawful means.
The Nigeria Police Force has obtained an interim order of forfeiture of some properties located in Zaria town in Kaduna State and Jigawa State respectively said to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, gave the interim order on August 20, following ex-parte motion the police brought in suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1129/2024 between Inspector General of Police as Complainant/Applicant and Ashiru Muharazu, Mamman Sani, Umar Mohammed and Shehu Mustapha as 1-4th Respondents.
The IGP in the application filed through one Idris A. Mohammed Esq, a police counsel had told the court that the properties under schedule were procured through unlawful means.
The properties were listed as: “1) two bedrooms flat located at Jimat street by Sako, Madachi Zaria LGA, Kaduna State; 2) three self contain flats located at Rafin Albasa, behind Bameye House, Alpha Bello Street, Gwargwaje, Zaria LGA, Kaduna State. 3) Twin flat, two bedrooms and four bathrooms flat located at Saye road, Bakasi Street Gwargwaje, Zaria LGA Kaduna State; 4) three bedrooms flat located at Tsalake Kofar Yamma, Babura LGA, Jigawa State.”
In granting the ex-parte motion, Justice Nwite ordered the police to publish the order in the national newspaper for the Respondents or anybody else who might have interest to show cause within 14 days why the permanent forfeiture should not be made in the circumstances of this case.
The court order posted by the Force spokesman ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on X his account, partly reads: “An interim order of this honourable court forfeiting to the federal government of Nigeria, the properties set out in the schedule herein, found and recovered by the operatives of the intelligence Response Team, Force intelligence department which the said properties are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
It further reads, “An order of this honourable court directing, the applicant to notify the residents or anyone is interested in the properties sought to be forfeited to appear before this honourable court and show cause within 14 days why the properties should not be forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria.
“An order of this honourable court directing the applicant to publish in any National Newspaper of the Interim Order under relief 1 above for the Respondents or anyone who is interested in the properties sought to be forfeited to appear before this honourable court to show cause within 14 days why final order of forfeiture of the properties mentioned in relief 1 herein should not be made in favour of the federal government of Nigeria. 4) and for such order or further orders as this honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.
“After reading the affidavit in support of the motion ex-parte sworn to by one Inspector Dung Datchung Esq., male adult and an investigating police officer attached to the intelligence Response Team Force intelligence department, Nigeria Police Force headquarters Abuja, with an annexure. And after hearing Idris A. Mohammed Esq of counsel for the Complainant/ applicant move n terms as the motion paper.
“It is hereby ordered as follows; 1) that an interim order of this honourable court is hereby made forfeiting to the federal government of Nigeria, the properties set out.”
