TheCable

A federal high court sitting in Lagos has ordered that the N2.2 billion linked to Adesola Amosu, former chief of air staff, be temporarily forfeited to the federal government.

Mojisola Olatoregun, the presiding judge, ordered the forfeiture on Tuesday, following an ex-parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC informed the court that the money is suspected to be “proceeds of unlawful activity.”

The judge also granted an interim order for the forfeiture of N190.2 which the commission said it recovered from Olugbenga Gbadebo, a former director of finance and budget at the Nigerian air force.

She ordered that N101 million reportedly recovered from Solomon Enterprises, a company linked to Amosu, be temporarily forfeited to the federal government.

The EFCC had said the defendants were using the company — as well as others — to conceal funds allegedly diverted.

The commission alleged that while he was in office, Amosu — and Adigun — diverted huge sums of money from the Nigerian air force accounts to purchase some properties both within and outside the country.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The judge adjourned the matter till June 29.