TheCable

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over 14 properties seized in 2007 to the Enugu state government.

Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the EFCC, handed over the properties to Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu, in Abuja on Wednesday.

The properties include a medical facility, transmission equipment for radio and television stations, and real estate.

Olukoyede said the properties were forfeited to the federal government after investigation and prosecution.

The EFCC boss, who did not disclose the identities of the owners of the properties before forfeiture, said President Bola Tinubu ordered the handover of the assets to the Enugu government.

He said the anti-graft agency began an investigation into the properties in 2007, noting that the EFCC has been managing the properties since forfeiture.

“This shows that governance can work in Nigeria. Our people deserve the benefits of good governance and that is what has been evidenced here,” Olukoyede said.

“If you look at the history of this particular case, it goes as far back as 2007. We started with the prosecution.

“So we are looking at over 17 years in the journey. Some of the properties forfeited have been managed by the EFCC since then.

“We have with us about 14 properties that we are handing over to the people of Enugu.

“We have properties which include real estate, and transmission equipment that would be of benefit to everyone in the state.”

Mbah said the properties would be used for the benefit of the people of the state.

“First of all, this is good. It is important we emphasise strongly the importance of the event you have just witnessed. This is a very significant milestone that we have achieved here,” the governor said.

“A journey that, as you know, started over 17 years ago, and now it’s come to an end by the assets that were forfeited to the federal government is now being handed over to Enugu for the use and benefit of the people of the state. Those are the rightful owners of the assets.

“In terms of detailing, as the chairman said, there are 14 properties that have been handed over today to the government and people of Enugu state.

“Those properties would be used for the benefit of the people of Enugu state, all the assets without any exemption, and they would be deployed to optimise use for the benefit of the people of Enugu state.”

In 2015, a federal high court in Lagos convicted four companies belonging to Chimaroke Nnamani, former governor of Enugu state, and ordered their forfeiture to the federal government.

The four companies are Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Limited and Renaissance University Teaching Hospital.

The companies had on May 19, 2015, pleaded guilty to a 10-count amended charge brought against them by the EFCC.

Nnamani and others were accused of having laundered funds from the state treasury, especially monies meant for LGAs in Enugu.

Nnamani served as governor of Enugu from 1999 to 2007.