The Federal High Court in Lagos has lifted the interim forfeiture order on 14 properties and N400m allegedly linked to Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello. Justice Nicholas Oweibo ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) could not move against the sitting governor due to his immunity under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.
The EFCC had obtained an interim forfeiture order for the 14 properties and firms in Lagos, Abuja, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as N400m recovered from Aminu Falala, after alleging that the properties were acquired with proceeds of fraud.
Governor Bello, through his legal team, filed a Notice of Intention and an application to vacate the interim forfeiture order, insisting that the properties were legitimately acquired before he was elected as Kogi State governor.
Despite opposition from the EFCC, Justice Oweibo agreed with Governor Bello, lifting the forfeiture order and striking out the suit due to a lack of jurisdiction based on the immunity granted to a sitting governor under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.
