Court refuses EFCC’s final forfeiture request for Kano businessman’s properties

A federal high court sitting in Kano has refused to grant an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking final forfeiture of landed properties belonging to Tanimu Inusa, a Kano-based businessman. 

The commission had secured interim forfeiture of the properties in 2021 following an application it filed in a suit marked FHC/KN/CS/91/2021.

The commission had listed seven properties in Kano and Kaduna — including an event centre, duplexes located at Gidado road in Kano, Lafiya road in Kano, Hotoro GRA, and Farm Centre areas.

According to the commission, the properties were “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities”. 

Inusa and his company, Tasaf Merchandise Limited, were listed as respondents in the suit.

However, delivering judgment on the application for final forfeiture on Monday, Abdullahi Liman, the presiding judge, said the commission had not proven its allegations against the defendants.

In his judgment delivered virtually, Liman discharged the earlier order of interim forfeiture, adding that none of the properties was linked to any public officer or proceeds of unlawful activity. 

Reacting to the judgment, Sagir Gezawa, counsel to the respondents, described the ruling as a triumph of truth. 

“The court held that our client, Tanimu Abdullahi Inusa, and his company, Tasaf General Merchandise Limited, have established a history and reputation of lingering business activities,” he said.

“Consequently, all our properties are now discharged and released to us.”