TheCable

The supreme court has dismissed an appeal filed by Andrew Yakubu, former group managing director (GMD) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), seeking the retrieval of his forfeited monies.

On February 3, 2017, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raided the Kaduna residence of the former NNPC chief and recovered the sum of $9.8m and £74,000 stashed in a fire-proof safe.

He is alleged to have omitted the monies from the EFCC asset declaration form given to him to fill in 2015.

The anti-graft agency then approached the court for an order of interim forfeiture, which was granted.

Yakubu, who was then arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on money laundering and false declaration of assets, has said the funds were gifts.

In May 2017, Zainab Abubakar, justice of the federal high court, Kano, rejected Yakubu’s plea seeking retrieval of the funds.

The court of appeal in Kaduna also upheld the lower court’s decision in 2018.

Still aggrieved, the former NNPC boss appealed the judgment at the supreme court.

Mohammed Abubakar, EFCC counsel, had filed an application on November 5, 2020, asking the court to dismiss the appeal for lack of diligent prosecution, stating that the appellant has abandoned his appeal.

Ahmad Raji, Yakubu’s lawyer, however told the court on Thursday that he had filed a notice of discontinuance on July 14, 2021.

Delivering judgment, the apex court presided over by Mary Odili dismissed the former GMD’s appeal marked SC.639/2018 for lack of diligent prosecution.