Court orders final forfeiture of hotel linked to ex-NOUN VC

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered a final forfeiture of a multi-million naira hotel, Sunflower Hotel Limited, in Kaduna State, linked to a former Vice Chancellor (VC) of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Vincent Tenebe, to the Federal Government

Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order following a motion on notice for the final forfeiture of the property moved by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), F. O. Dibang.

“Order is hereby made forfeiting property set out in the scheduled attached herein found in the possession of the respondent as properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities to the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Justice Ekwo said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the order, made on October 22, was sighted yesterday in Abuja.

While the EFCC was the applicant in the motion on notice, Sunflower Hotel Limited was the sole respondent.

The motion was dated and filed on June 21.

The hotel, in the schedule, is located at Sunflower Crescent, Unguwan Maigero Road, Narayi in Kaduna.

NAN reports that Justice Ekwo had, on February 16, granted the anti-graft agency’s application for the preservation of the hotel.

The judge also directed the EFCC to publish the order within 14 days in any national newspaper and on its website or by any other means of publication.

He said this would enable all persons or bodies that might have interest in the property to claim ownership of the property and to show cause why the property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The case was adjourned till March 5 for a report.