The former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Andrew Yakubu has filed an appeal at the Federal High Court, Kano demanding the refund of the $9.7m and £74,000 seized from him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  and which the court that sat in Kano had ruled that it be forfeited to the Federal Government.

In the appeal filed by his counsel, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), Yakubu challenged the ruling of the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Zainab B. Abubakar, saying the court lacked the
territorial jurisdiction to try the case since the crime was allegedly committed in Abuja, which is outside the territorial jurisdiction of the Kano court.

In a motion on notice with suit number FHC/ICN/CS/24/2017, Yakubu’s counsel, Raji argued that:
“by Section 45 of the Federal High Court Act, an offence shall be tried only by a court exercising jurisdiction in the area or place where the offence was committed.
No aspect of the perceived offence in respect of which the Order of 13th February, 2017 was made, was committed within the Kano judicial division of this Honourable Court,” Raji said.
“By Section 28 of the EFCC Act, only the commission, i.e. the EFCC has the vires to seek an Order for the interim forfeiture of property under the Act.
The power of this Honourable Court to make interim forfeiture Order(s) pursuant to Sections 28 & 29 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004 (hereinafter “EFCC Act”) is applicable ONLY to alleged offences charged under the EFCC Act and not to offences cognizable under any other law.
“The ex-parte Order of this Honourable Court dated 13th February, 2017, was made in respect of alleged offences under the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission Act (hereinafter “ICPC Act”) and not the EFCC Act as prescribed by Section 28 & 29 thereof.
“The conditions precedent to the grant of an interim forfeiture Order under Sections 28 & 29 of the EFCC Act were not complied with by the Applicant before the Order was made.
In the instant case, no charge was brought against the Respondent/Applicant before the provisions of Section 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act were activated to grant the ex-parte Order of 13th February, 2017.”
Recall that the Federal High Court which sat in Kano on the 13th February, 2017 and presided over by Justice Zainab B. Abubakar, had ordered the forfeiture of the sum of $9,772,000 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand United States Dollars) and £74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling) recovered from Mr. Andrew Yakubu to the Federal Government.

In a press release signed by Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC Head Media & Publicity, the order was sequel to an ex parte application by the EFCC seeking an interim forfeiture of the recovered money to the Federal Government.

The ex parte application was moved by Salihu Sani, counsel for the applicant.

 In her ruling, Justice Zainab had held “That the sum of $9,772,000 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand United States Dollars) and £74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling) which are now in the custody of the applicant (EFCC) are in the interim forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

It would also be recalled that, on the 3rd day of February, 2017, operatives of the Commission had stormed a building belonging to the former NNPC boss and recovered the staggering sum of $9,772,000 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand United States Dollars) and £74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling) stashed in a huge fire proof safe.

However, Mr. Yakubu has long said the money seized from him were gifts from persons he did not mention.

Recall also that on February 8, 2017, Andrew Yakubu had reported to the Commission’s Zonal office in Kano and made statement wherein he admitted ownership of the recovered money, claiming it was gift from unnamed persons.

Yakubu was GMD of the NNPC between 2012 and 2014.

Source - Vanguard

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Posted: at 19-02-2017 11:03 PM (7 years ago) | Addicted Hero

He deserves a dirty slap for that statement, ole

Posted: at 19-02-2017 11:20 PM (7 years ago) | Gistmaniac

I no blame u ,I blame did system that still allowed you to be seeing sunlight .if he had been given the option of retaining money or execution then this barawo wouldn't be challenging the verdict .Just imagine how the world sees us after watching this news on CNN .This guys are making big mess of our collective dignity  as a Nigerian .

Posted: at 19-02-2017 11:39 PM (7 years ago) | Gistmaniac

.. Crime committed in Abuja?. So, there was a crime afterall.

Posted: at 19-02-2017 11:57 PM (7 years ago) | Gistmaniac

No be ur fault, na the govt wey dey too lenient

Posted: at 20-02-2017 02:19 AM (7 years ago) | Hero

Were is he talking from  ?  He surpose to be in jail  figthing for. His. Life. To be spare and not the stolen  Money  we really need. Amend some of our  laws

Posted: at 20-02-2017 05:12 AM (7 years ago) | Upcoming

Such person still have the confident to go to court. Let us see how it will end with those that are backroom supporters.
This is just the beginning of downfall to expose himself the more.

CORRUPTION WILL FIGHT BACK.........NIGERIAN SHOULD KNOW THIS AND SUPPORT FG TO BE MORE STRONGER ON THEM.

They fight back FG to make them look useless in the eye of the Nigerian for them to have their ways continually

Posted: at 20-02-2017 05:30 AM (7 years ago) | Gistmaniac

This man is sick,  he would have as well say that, the monies fell from the sky.

Posted: at 20-02-2017 06:02 AM (7 years ago) | Gistmaniac

NA BECAUSE THEN ON HANG YOU  FOOLISH  FOOL.  OLE

Posted: at 20-02-2017 07:21 AM (7 years ago) | Upcoming

the money na chiken change compare to the one buharri still when he be ptf chairman and many top position he held in this country.fools dat want one nigeria shame on you all .the country can never be good .devide this thing the hausa will prospare ,youruba and igbo all will prospare then this cabals that have united somuch and where bizzy share the wealth of the people

Posted: at 20-02-2017 07:58 AM (7 years ago) | Upcoming

Please tell them ooooooo

Posted: at 20-02-2017 09:28 AM (7 years ago) | Gistmaniac

mumu

Posted: at 20-02-2017 09:41 AM (7 years ago) | Hero

This politicians, current and past presidents, governors, senators, ministers, and all other federal and state government officials directors in ministries and other top government office holders officials looting the country treasury and stealing and misappropriate the state funds due to corruption do not even have respect for Nigerians and the entire citizens of this country anymore.
The case of the NNPC GMD is a perfect examples, just imagine what this man is saying, he is telling the government to return back his money, where the hell did this man got this kind of money from, what kind of business did he do, how much is his salary in NNPC.
This man need to be put in jail and indicted, so as to serve as a deterrent to other government officials. This people dont have respects for Nigerians anymore because nobody prosecuted them.
It is time for Nigerians to stand up expecially the youth of the nation to stop all this nonsense.
This people stealing and looting our money must be prosecuted and put in jail, we should not allow them go scot free.
Enough is a Enough.

Posted: at 20-02-2017 09:55 AM (7 years ago) | Newbie

May God punish you for that demand....OLE, BARAWO

Posted: at 21-02-2017 04:44 PM (7 years ago) | Hero

Shut up,,,,
             

Posted: at 24-02-2017 06:02 AM (7 years ago) | Addicted Hero

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