EFCC Clampdown On Official In Buhari SSA’s Office, Seize N241m, Diverted Property

Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, has granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) permission to seize N241million traced to an official in the presidency.

Naija News reports that the judge approved the forfeiture following an ex-parte application filed by the commission.

The EFCC also got court permission to seize a property at Plot No. 1121, Ekukinam Street in Utako District, Cadastral Zone, Abuja.

The suspect, Abdulsalam Bawa, works in the Account Department in the office of Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State.

According to the commission, the funds and property were reasonably suspected to be the proceeds of Bawa’s unlawful activities.

EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo stated that the money and property was diverted from the Federal Government.

Justice Oweibo granted all the reliefs sought by the EFCC and ordered the interim forfeiture of the N241million and property.

The case was adjourned until September 6 for final forfeiture hearing.

Meanwhile, the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, OSSAP-SDGs, has reacted to the ruling of the court.

“The management of OSSAP-SDGS will like to state that it requested the redeployment of the staff to their mother agency in 2019 when it was suspected that the safeguard measures put in place by the Office may have been breached in their department”, a statement by the Office said.

“The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, had consequently directed the then Secretary of Programmes, OSSAP-SDGs to ensure thorough investigations of the breach by the necessary authorities.

“OSSAP-SDGs will continue to ensure compliance with all necessary financial rules and cooperate with relevant authorities in line with the anti-corruption stance of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration”.