The Federal
High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the temporary forfeiture of Victoria
East Park Hotel and Suites, in the town of Ikorodu, Lagos, over an alleged
fraud of N53.7m.
Justice
Chuka Obiozor ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to
take over the hotel for 21 days to enable it to conclude its investigation of
the alleged fraud.
The
anti-corruption agency had, in an ex parte application, told the court that it
believed the hotel was acquired with proceeds of fraud by one Ebiesuwa
Fredrick, who is thought to be the ringleader of a syndicate of fraudsters
based in Ibadan and with accomplices in Lagos.
EFCC counsel
Ayanfeoluwa Ogunsina told Justice Obiozor the commission sought to take over
the hotel, located on Igbogbo-Mayegun Road, so as to prevent the fraudsters
from disposing of it during its investigation, thereby "defeating the end
of justice."
Ogunsina
said the EFCC was investigating Fredrick and members of his fraud syndicate,
who were still at large, based on a petition it received from one Dunni
Olagbegi, who claimed to have been duped of about N53.7m by the suspects.
An investigating
officer with the EFCC, Chris Odofin, deposed to an affidavit filed in support
of the ex parte application. In it, he
described the methods they used as follows: "The antics of these
fraudsters include luring people into their criminal den where they present one
of them as a pastor, hypnotize their victim, make the victim take an oath never
to reveal what they say or do and then use all sorts of deceitful methods to
collect money from the victim.”
He said
preliminary investigations revealed that Fredrick is a member of the syndicate
of fraudsters that specialize in duping unsuspecting members of the society and
have duped several people by this means, and that they are still on the prowl,
seeking more victims.
He said the
respondent and some members of his syndicate “launder the proceeds of their
criminal activities through acquisition of landed properties within and outside
Ibadan with a view to legitimizing and integrating their ill-gotten wealth into
the mainstream economy, despite the fact that they have no legitimate sources
of income."
Justice
Obiozor, in a short ruling, granted the EFCC application, empowering the
anti-graft agency to take over Victoria East Park Hotel and Suites for 21 days.
The judge
also directed the anti-graft agency to paste the court order in a conspicuous
place on the premises of the hotel and adjourned further proceedings in the
case till August 9, 2017.
0 Comments