Court orders final forfeiture of ‘N1.5bn hospital linked to Okorocha

Chidi Samuel| A federal high court sitting in Owerri, Imo state capital, on Friday ordered final forfeiture of Dews of Hope Hospital, Owerri, an N1.5 billion 200-bed hospital, allegedly linked to Pascal Obi, an aide of the immediate past governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha.

Justice T.G Ringin, of the federal high court in Port Harcourt, had in August 2019, given an interim forfeiture of the property.

The order followed an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The anti graft agency informed the court that it had evidence that the facility was acquired through “proceeds of illicit activities”, as funds from government house, Owerri were traced to the hospital.

According to the EFCC, investigation revealed that Paschal Obi, former permanent secretary and principal secretary to Okorocha, now a member of the house of representatives, was a signatory to the accounts.

Obi, has, however denied ownership of the medical facility, the EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren said in a statement.

He said, “These developments led the Commission to file for the forefeiture of the property on July 25, 2019 under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud,and Other Related Offences Act 2006.”

“In granting the request for the interim forfeiture of the property, the court ordered the anti-graft agency to publish the Order in a national newspaper, which was accordingly complied with in the Nation Newspaper of August 30, 2019 and Leadership Newspaper of September 3,2019 respectively, asking interested parties to show cause why the property should not be forfeited to the federal government within fourteen days from the dates of the publications.

“Upon the expiration of the fourteen day notice and with no one showing interest in the hospital, the Commission filed for the final forfeiture of the facility.”