“Enugu tampered with property seized from ex-Governor”

Okoro Chinedu 09:21 12/06/2015
Lagos - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged the Enugu State Government tampered with the assets of companies associated with the former governor of the state, Chimaroke Nnmani.
A complaint has been issued to the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

The companies in question are Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Limited and Renaissance University Teaching Hospital.

The companies, which had last month pleaded guilty to a ten-count amended charge EFCC brought against them, are alleged to have failed to comply with lawful inquiry made by the commission.

Their assets are central to the review of facts of the four companies linked to the ex-governor which was fixed for Thursday.

Counsel to the EFCC, Kelvin Uzozie, told the court that he was still working to get a schedule of all the assets and properties of the companies.

He told the court that in the course of preparing the schedule it was discovered that some of the assets and properties had been taken over or tampered with by the immediate past government of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime.

“We discovered that most of the properties have been allocated to their friends, family members or political office holders. We are interested in getting all the assets as there was an interim forfeiture order by the court on the assets and properties. We believe it is not right for anybody no matter how highly placed the person may be to tamper with properties that are before the court. We want the properties to be harmonized,” said Uzozie.

Nnamani, who was governor for eight years until 2007, was first arraigned before Justice Tijani Abubakar in 2007.

The ex-governor was docked alongside Sunday Anyaogu, his then aide, and some firms linked to them are alleged to have conspired with other accused persons to launder funds from the state treasury, especially monies meant for the local government areas of Enugu state.

Justice Mohammed Yinusa has adjourned the case against the companies to July 7.

- CAJ News