From Olukayode Idowu, Damaturu
A federal civil servant is to forfeit his building to the Federal Government for corruptly acquiring it.
The judge of the Federal High Court, Damaturu, Justice Hammada Isa Dashen on Thursday ordered the final forfeiture of an uncompleted building, located on No. 37 AV Road, Barracks Road, Jimeta Yola, Adamawa State, belonging to one Sulaiman Musa Bazza, in favour of the Federal Government.
Bazza, a public servant in the Federal Pay Office, Damaturu was brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for acquiring the forfeited building through proceeds of corruption.
The case followed a September, 2018 petition by “Concerned Citizens of Yobe State,” alleging criminal diversion of public funds against the defendant, and the Maiduguri Office of the EFCC discovered in the course of its investigations that Bazza, took unfair advantage of his position and diverted money, belonging to the Federal Government for the purchase of the property.
Having earlier secured an interim forfeiture order on the property, prosecution counsel, Al’Qasim Ja’afar, at Thursday’s hearing, urged the court to grant his application for a final forfeiture.
The application, subsequently, met no objection from the defendant.
Justice Dashen granted the application in accordance with Section 30 of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004.