The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has through the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, recovered 20 properties, 10 vehicles, and three princely wristwatches from two brothers, Olisaebuka Eze and Onyeka Nnadozie Eze, for a petitioner, Arthur Eze.

In a final forfeiture ruling on Friday, June 7, 2024, by a three-man panel of justices, the Appeal Court dismissed the appeal filed by the brothers and affirmed the final forfeiture of the properties, vehicles, and other items to Eze, the nominal petitioner as presented by EFCC counsel Ibrahim Buba.

The properties all located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, were held by the court to have been acquired with proceeds of crime committed against Eze.

The properties and items which Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi of the FCT High Court, sitting in the Gudu area of Abuja, had in April 2022, ordered their final forfeiture to the petitioner include seven-bedroom duplex at Mabushi District in Abuja, nine units of two-bedroom flats located at Kado District in Abuja, and three bedroom terrace duplex located at Karsana District in the FCT, among others.

Dissatisfied with the High Court order, the brothers approached the appellate court in separate appeals praying that the order be set aside.

‘Distasteful stunt’: EFCC denies ladies’ assault in Akure raid

However, in the appeal court judgement read by Justice H.A. Barka, the appellate court held that the duo did not satisfactorily prove that they legitimately acquired the properties and all the items involved.

According to Justice Barka, the appellants did not “place any material before the court to enable it to disturb the findings of the lower court.”

The judge declared that the appeal lacked merit and dismissed it accordingly.

“The judgment of the lower court is affirmed,” Justice Barka added.

According to a statement issued by EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale on Monday, June 10, the road to the final forfeiture began in 2020 when the anti-graft agency received a petition from Eze, alleging theft, criminal misappropriation, and money laundering against the first respondent Olisaebuka Eze who was the administrative officer of his company, Oranto Petroleum Limited.

Oyewale quoted Eze as saying that Olisaebuka in connivance with his brother, Nnadozie, stole his money running into billions of naira and millions of dollars, which both used to acquire properties in Abuja and Enugu.

According to him, upon the conclusion of investigations, the commission arrested Olisaebuka and Nnadozie and froze their bank accounts, following court orders.

The Star