…As 4 troops die, 9 injured in battle with terrorists***
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, ordered a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr Clement Onubuogo Illoh alleged to have been involved in the Sure-p scam to permanently forfeit N664million and $137,680.11 to the Federal Government.
Trial judge, Justice Saliu Seidu, granted the order at the resume trial of the former permanent secretary. Counsel to Illoh, Mr. T.S. Awana, had informed the court that his client had two applications, one challenging the jurisdiction of the court and the other for discharge of the earlier order of the court granting the interim for forfeiture of the properties in question.
Awana added that the case being a civil case and the discussion between his client and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on the need to settle out of court, he would be withdrawing the two applications. Counsel to EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, in his submission, confirmed the move to settle out of court, stating that he would not be opposing the withdrawals of the two motions by the defendant and urged the court to strike out the motions for the coast to be clear for out of court settlement.
Oyedepo further told the court that based on the discussion and agreement reached between the parties, EFCC would be applying for the discharge of an earlier interim order of the court as regards two of the properties being sought to be forfeited to the government.
The properties are Clement Illoh’s Mansion located at Ikom Quarters, Issala Azegba, Delta State and the property lying and situates at number 19 Madue Nwafor Street, Off Achala Ibuzor Road, Asaba Delta State. Awana did not oppose the application which paved the way for EFCC to move the motion for the final forfeiture of the other properties, said to have been procured with proceed of suspected illegal act.
In moving the application for final forfeiture of the properties, EFCC counsel, told the court that since the defendant had withdrawn their counter affidavit, the prosecution was left with no option than to move the motion for final forfeiture of the properties.
Justice Saidu consequently granted the application ordering the defendant to forfeit N437, 348,181.16 found by EFCC in possession of the former Permanent Sec, reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity. The court also order the final forfeiture of another N97, 300.613.44 found by the commission in the defendant’s account.
In the meantime, four troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have died, while nine others were critically injured during an encounter with Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East.
The development occurred on Monday when soldiers went to clear terrorists in Metele village, Tumbun Gini and Tumbun Ndjamena. “During the clearance operations, Boko Haram terrorists abandoned the area in disarray, leaving behind livestock, large quantity of foodstuff, motorcycles and donkeys,” the Army said yesterday.
The troops, according to a statement by the Nigerian Army, died when a Boko Haram vehicle laden with Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, rammed into an MRAP vehicle which exploded, killing three soldiers, a civilian JTF and wounded the other soldiers, adding that 107 terrorists were killed.
A statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Usman, said the dead and wounded have been evacuated to 8 Division Medical Services and Hospital, Monguno.
It said the troops captured one anti-aircraft gun, 116 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition with metal links, four AK-47 rifles, 57 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition (special), two light machine guns, two rocket propelled grenade, seven RPG tubes, one RPG bomb and two primed 36 hand grenades. Other recovered items are one small solar panel with a mobile phone, one Holy Qur’an, six Hadith books, as well as five gun trucks
Vanguard
