An
Ikeja High Court on Wednesday granted an order for an interim
forfeiture of three expensive cars belonging to a 28-year-old
undergraduate, Lawrence Orimogunje.
Justice
Lateef Lawal-Akapo granted the order while ruling on an ex parte
application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), which had charged Orimogunje with forgery and possession of
false documents.
The
affected cars are a Nissan Infinity G35 with registration number EP150
ABJ, a Chrysler 300 with registration number OLD – 01 and a Range Rover
Sport with registration number OLD-03.
In
his ruling, the judge held that Orimogunje’s “lifestyle” was not
commensurate with what he was earning as a student of Lead City
University, Oyo State.
Lawal-Akapo said conclusive proof was therefore not needed for the order to be granted.
He
said: “Sections 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act of 2004 empower the
commission to confiscate any property suspected to have been acquired
through fraudulent means.”
The judge consequently directed the EFCC to seize the cars pending the conclusion of the trial.
Moving
the forfeiture application earlier, the EFCC counsel, Mrs Anita Imo,
said it was brought pursuant to Sections 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act.
Imo
argued that the cars were acquired through suspected Internet fraud
activities and urged the court to grant the forfeiture order.
Orimogunje was arraigned on Feb.15, on a 16-count charge of forgery and possession of false documents.
The
EFCC said that the accused was arrested on Dec. 24, 2012 in Lagos for
being in possession of various documents used for facilitating internet
fraud.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted a N1 million bail, with two sureties in like sum.
The matter was adjourned till March 18 for trial.
(NAN)
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