Ex-Naval chief forfeits N1.8b to FG

Justice Muslim Sule Hassan of a Federal High Court Lagos yesterday ordered the final forfeiture of N1.83 billion allegedly belonging to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dele Ezeoba. Justice Hassan granted the order for permanent forfeiture of the huge sum of money following an application by an EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, in pursuant to section 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act 2006. EFCC claims the seized money was diverted from the coffers of the Nigerian Navy while Ezeoba was in office.

According to the antigraft agency, Ezeoba had opened an account for a company, Aquila leasing limited using a different name, Chukwuka Onwuchekwa, the disguised Managing Director of the leasing company. 

In a desperate move to cover his crime,  the suspect entered into a supposed memorandum of understanding to buy Aquila’s shares from the said Onwuchekwa. ‎A look into the books of the Nigerian Navy while he was in office led to the discovery of his crime.

The EFCC had secured a temporary forfeiture of the N1.8 billion but yesterday were able to secure a temporary forfeiture in court.