The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Thursday ordered an interim forfeiture of three properties linked to the Abia House of Assembly member, Erondu Erondu, to the federal government over alleged money laundering to the tune of N28 billion.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s lawyer, C.O. Onu, moved a motion ex parte to the effect.

The judge ordered that the notice be published on the Daily Trust Newspaper and EFCC website for interested person(s) to show cause within 14 days of the date of publication why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.

“I have listened to the submission of the learner counsel for the applicant (EFCC). I have also gone through the affidavit evidence with the exhibits thereto, along with the written address.

“I am of the view, and I so hold that the application is meritorious. Consequently, the application is granted as prayed,” Justice Nwite said, adjourning the matter until May 26 for a compliance report.

The property includes a four-bedroom bungalow at Plot 6/31, Ukaegbu Layout, Umuahia North LGA, Abia, valued at N409 million, and a three-bedroom bungalow at the same address as above and valued at N300 million.

The other property is a five-bedroom bungalow at Guzape in Abuja valued at N500 million.

Mr Erondu is the lawmaker representing Obingwa West Constituency of the Abia State House of Assembly.

The anti-graft agency had, in the motion ex parte dated April 10 and filed April 16, sought two orders.

The commission prayed the court for an order that the property set out in the schedule be seized in the interim, pending the conclusion of the investigation and possible prosecution.

The commission said the allegations were in connection with a case of economic and financial crimes, an alleged case of criminal conspiracy, illegal transfer of funds, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and money laundering to the tune of over N28 billion.

In the affidavit attached to the motion and deposed to by an EFCC staff, Samson Oloje, the officer averred that the commission received an alleged fraud case.

He said the case bordered on “criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds and money. Laundering to the tune of over N28 billion initiated through an intelligence report source to the applicant’s organisation.”

“That the assets and properties in the schedule of this application are being investigated for being linked to economic and financial crimes, proceeds of crimes, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, illegal transfer of funds, criminal conspiracy, impersonation and money laundering via an open source intelligence report.

“That herein attached are the statements of the person involved in the dealings and transactions connected to this case hereby attached as Exhibit EFCC-1,” he said.

Mr Oloje said it would be in the interest of justice for the application to be granted “to preserve the res pending the conclusion of investigation for whosoever concerned to show cause why the aforementioned assets and properties should not be forfeited to the federal government.”

(NAN)