Encomium
A businesswoman, Mrs. Moji Yakubu has petitioned the chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Maku over an alleged miscarriage of justice by the officials of the anti-corruption body who dragged her to court for stealing land.
In the petition dated July 19, 2016, Mrs. Yakubu, through her lawyer, Mr. Yemi Adeshina of Graystone Solicitors alleged that some officials of the commission carrying out orders of some unknown persons framed her up of stealing a 10 hectare land at Sangotedo, Lekki, Lagos.
Mr. Adeshina noted that his client rightfully purchased the 10 hectares of land from its owners, the Onibeju royal family for N100 million and that a deed of assignment was duly executed by both parties.
According to Mr. Adeshina, some members of the Onibeju royal family had initially petitioned the EFCC over alleged fraudulent activities of one Miss Folashade Ogundare whom the family had withdrawn the power of attorney over the piece of land from.
He alleged that while investigation was still on-going over the family’s alleged N4 billion fraud against Miss Ogundare, the matter took a different twist as the family members who took the matter to the commission became suspects.
In a more shocking development, Adeshina stated that the commission, last year slammed an 11 count criminal charge of stealing against his client, and nine members of the Onibeju family.
In a move to further intimidate Mrs. Yakubu, Adeshina said that the commission further proceeded to freeze his client’s company, Monan Trading Company Ltd, account without a valid order from any court. The freeze of the company’s account was however, lifted earlier this year as the trial judge, Justice Ipaye lambasted the commission for flagrant disregard for rule of law.
The judge, who described the EFCC’s action as illegal promptly ordered that the account be reopened. The judge also made some observation on the charge which indicated that 10 hectares of land was stolen instead of being trespassed.
The court has since fixed Tuesday, July 26, 2016, for ruling on the matter. While the decision of the court is pending, Mr. Adeshina stated that the commission secretly went before another court and obtained a suspicious injunction for temporary forfeiture of her Monan Garden Estate, in Lekki, Laogs.
Adeshina stated that since that forfeiture order was executed his client has been subjected to all manners of ridicule and negative media publicity.
Although, he has vowed to pursue and overturn the forfeiture order, Adeshina appealed to the EFCC chairman to personally look into the matter so as to mitigate the injustice being meted out on his client.
