Press statement from the EFCC
Justice Mohammed Yinusa of the Federal High Court, Lagos
today July 8, 2015 convicted four companies associated with
former governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani and
ordered that their properties be forfeited 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 Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC. The companies are alleged to have failed to
comply with lawful inquiry made by the Commission.
At today’s sitting, counsel to the EFCC Kelvin Uzozie prayed the court
to make an order of final forfeiture of the companies based on their
plea. Justice Yinusa after reviewing the facts convicted the companies
and made an order of final forfeiture of their assets to the Federal
Government, citing provision of the EFCC Establishment Act on Final
Forfeiture.
The properties are located across the five states in the South East
geopolitical zone.
Among them are 22 Duplex buildings in Ebeano Under Tunnel Estate
now known as Fidelity Estate; Renaissance University Teaching
Hospital; Cosmos 105.5 FM Digital Station (Ceuna Communications);
and Capital City Automobile Limited, located at 12 Station Road, GRA,
Enugu. Also forfeited to the Federal Government include properties of
Hill Gate Investment - Plot No H12, H13, H14, H15, H21`, H116, H188,
Plot 10, Plot H11, Plot H16, Plot H17, Plot H18, Plot 19, Plot H20, Plot
H49, Plot H50, Plot H117, CP/4 (HCR2), CP5 (HCR2) CP/6(HCR2)
CP/7 (HCR2) CP/8
The assets also include several undeveloped properties/plots of land
of Rainbownet Nigeria Limited in Enugu, Abakaliki, Aba, Owerri, Onitsha,
Awka and Umuahia.
Properties of Rainbownet Communication which include BTS,
Microwave Avenue Radio, Rectifiere, and a host of the equipment in
various sites in Anambra States are also to be forfeited to the Federal
Government.
Aside the landed properties, over N35 million from the frozen bank
accounts of the companies are also to the forfeited to the Federal
Government of Nigeria.
Uzozie who is pleased with the ruling of the court said the Commission
had to sought for a separate trial of the companies as the first accused
person, former governor of Enugu State, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani had
stalled proceedings on the matter on account of frequent application to
travel abroad for medical treatment on grounds of ill-health.
Chimaroke Nnamani alongside Sunday Anyaogu, his then aide and six
firms linked to them: Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, Hillgate Nigeria
Limited, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Limited,
Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth
High School were first arraigned before Justice Tijani Abubakar in 2007.
The case was re-assigned to Justice Charles Archibong following the
transfer of Justice Abubakar, now of the Appeal Court, out of the Lagos
division of the Federal High Court. Again, the case was re-assigned to
Justice Yinusa, after Justice Archibong (now retired) was also
transferred out of the Lagos division of the court.
According to the charge, Nnamani conspired with other accused
persons to launder funds from the state treasury, especially monies
meant for the local government areas of Enugu state.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
7th July, 2015
Posted by Adebayo A J