Abuja, Nigeria — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) don secure final forfeiture of two properties wey dey linked to Aminu Sidi Garunbabba, one senior staff of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). Dis forfeiture order na by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court wey happen on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
The two properties wey dey under forfeiture include one four-bedroom terrace maisonette wey get boys’ quarter for Barumark Groove Estate, Wuye District, Abuja, and di other property wey dey No. 5 Lodge Road, Kano State. EFCC don file an ex-parte motion on March 16, 2022, through counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, to request for di final forfeiture.
According to statement from EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, di court earlier grant interim forfeiture order on February 16, 2022, and request make dem publish am for national newspaper, to allow any party wey get interest to come show cause why di properties no go be finally forfeited.
During di hearing for di final forfeiture, di prosecution counsel tell di court sey di properties na suspected proceeds of unlawful activities. He cite Section 44(2) of di Constitution and Section 17 of di Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, No. 14, 2006 as basis for di motion.
“Di court don already listen to di submissions wey di defence counsel make, but Justice Egwuatu dismiss di objection say public officer fit dey investigated and prosecuted even as administrative disciplinary action dey ongoing,” Oyewale explain. Di judge emphasize sey di case no be criminal case but rather a matter wey dey hinge on reasonable suspicion, allowing di court to grant di request for final forfeiture.
Justice Egwuatu talk sey: “A person no suppose benefit from illegitimate acts. Di respondent fail to show any reasonable cause say di funds wey dem use buy di property na from legitimate earnings.” Dis comments highlight di need for accountability and di relationship between public service and financial integrity.
EFCC investigations show sey between 2017 and 2018, Garunbabba and some of his colleagues for FIRS con funded di properties through fraudulent Duty Tour Allowances (DTA) wey dem no travel for. Di investigation reveal sey Garunbabba collect nearly N342 million from di misappropriated DTA payments, dividing di amount among himself and his colleagues.
Na dis level of fraud wey lead to di EFCC taking action against him. Garunbabba, a public servant, dey on annual salary wey no explain how e take purchase di properties, raising serious flags on his financial transactions.
