Court orders seizure of NOK University, property of ex-director

A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday ordered interim forfeiture of assets linked to a former director of accounts, NOK University, Kaduna. 

Justice Zainab Abubakar gave the order while ruling on a motion ex-parte brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.  

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The judge also directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in national dailies for anyone with interest in the properties to show cause, within 14 days why it should not be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. 

The university, built by a former Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA) in the Federal Ministry of Health, Anthony Hassan, was suspected to have been built with proceeds of unlawful activities traced to its owner.

The physical assets of the university forfeited included Senate building, ICT building, Faculty of Medicine building, Science Deanery building, two academic buildings, a faculty hall  and other buildings. 

Other assets forfeited were Gwasmyen Water Factory, Gwasmyen Event Centre and Gwasmyen International Hotel in Kaduna. 

Counsel to the EFCC, Ekele Iheanacho, told the court that the EFCC sought the order “pursuant to Section 44(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006 and under the inherent Jurisdiction of the Honorable Court”.

Justice Abubakar adjourned the matter to October 5.