Ex NDDC MD FORFEITS N250Million: Nigerians condemn EFCC's non mentioning of name

By Bartholomew Madukwe

Nigerians have condemned the non mentioning of the name of the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), who recently forfeited #250Million to the Federal Government, following an application for final forfeiture of the fund by the Lagos zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A statement by the commission reads: "Justice R.M Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, recently granted the final forfeiture of the money, based on an application for final forfeiture of the fund by the Lagos zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC).

"The EFCC had approached the court, seeking the forfeiture of the fund, arguing that it was traced, recovered and reasonably suspected to be part of proceeds of unlawful activities.

"Specifically, investigation by the Commission revealed that a contractor with the NDDC, received funds for a purported contract and transferred N250million, suspected as kickbacks, to a real estate company, for the acquisition of a property in favour of the former MD of the NDDC.

"The EFCC, armed with enough facts and figures involved in the transaction, approached the court for the forfeiture of the money to the government. Justice Aikawa granted the order of final forfeiture accordingly."

Reaacting on Twitter to the non mentioning of the suspect's name by the EFCC, Jonathan Elendu said, "I read this press release twice.  I figured something was wrong with it. Now I know what is wrong. The name of the fmr NDDC MD who forfeited N250m is not mentioned in the release. Yet you would show pics of people who steal hundreds of thousands. This is outrageous. Shame on EFCC!"

According to Oba Ojikutu Owuro, "So the former NDDC Managing Director is nameless. You guys at EFCC are jokers. Continue deceiving the public."

On anonymity, another Nigerian asserted, "With this, it means that only those who have money can win case worth death or jail term. Average people who find it difficult to eat 3 square meals will face what it is not."