Ex-NAPL Mohammed boss loses Lagos properties to FG

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of five choice properties linked to a former Managing Director Nigerian Army Properties Limited, NAPL, Major-General U.M. Mohammed to the Federal Government.

Justice Chukujekwu Aneke gave the final forfeiture order on Wednesday following a motion on notice filed and argued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, through its lawyer, A.O. Mohammed.

The properties are: No.8b, Bedwell Road, Ikoyi; No.3, Force Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; No.14, Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; No.6, Marina, Ikoyi, Lagos and No. 28, Point Road, Apapa, Lagos.

EFCC had argued before the court that its investigation revealed that the properties were fraudulently misappropriated and the proceeds of the sale diverted for personal use, Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity said in s statement.

The judge had, on March 4, 2024, ordered the interim forfeiture of the properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of an unlawful activity and also directed the publication of the order in a national newspaper for any interested person to show cause why they should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Moving the application for the final forfeiture of the properties on Wednesday, Mohammed told the court that the Commission had complied with the order of the court regarding the publication.

He also submitted that “ it will be in the interest of justice for the court to grant the prayers being sought and also order the final forfeiture of the property to the Federal Government.”

The judge, after listening to the submissions of the EFCC’ s counsel, ordered the final forfeiture of the five properties to the Federal Government in favour of NAPL.

The Nigerian Army Special Court Martial had also last year sentenced Major-General Mohammed to seven years imprisonment over allegation of stealing.

He was also ordered to refund $2.17 million dollars and N1.06 billion, being amount of monies he stole, back to the company’s coffers.

This was after he was found guilty of 14 out of 18 counts charges preferred against him by the Nigerian Army before Special Court Martia presided over by Major General James Myam,

Though the General was sentenced to 49 years imprisonment, but the court said the sentences would run concurrently.