….. Details How Oke’s Wife Bought Luxury Apartment In Cash
SAN FRANCISCO, May 05, (THEWILL) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told the Federal High Court in Lagos that no one has come forward to claim the N15 billion cash found in Flat 7B, Osborne Towers, 16, Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
THEWILL recalls that Justice Muslim Hassan, while ordering a temporary forfeiture of the money on April 13, directed EFCC to advertise the order in a newspaper so that anybody who owns the money can claim it within 14 days.
Following the expiration of the deadline, the anti-graft body, on Friday, urged the Court to order a final forefieture of the money to the Federal Government.
THEWILL however notes that the Presidency had in a statement confirmed that the money belongs to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and even constituted a panel headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to investigate the circumstances surrounding the warehousing of the money in a luxury private apartment in Ikoyi.
THEWILL had first reported that the National Intelligence Agency had claimed ownership of the money, following which the federal government launched the probe and suspended its Director-General, Ayodele Oke.
EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, said no one showed up in court to show cause why the money should not be permanently forfeited.
EFCC, in an affidavit in support of the application for final forfeiture of the sums, deposed to by a Detective Inspector, Mohammed Chiroma, revealed that Oke’s wife, Folasade, allegedly owns the apartment in which the monies were found.
The Commission said Oke’s wife bought the flat from Fine and Country Limited for $1.658million between August 25 and September 3, 2015 in the name of Chobe Ventures Limited where she and her son, Master Ayodele Oke Junior, are the directors.
EFCC also tendered the receipt of payment showing that Mrs. Oke paid for the apartment in cash in tranches without going through a financial institution declaring that the action violates the Money Laundering Act.
It disclosed that she allegedly paid $700,000, $650,000 and $353,700 to a Bureau de Change (BDC) company, which converted the sums into N360,000,000 with which she bought the property from Fine and Country.
About the Author
