By our reporter| A federal high court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered an interim forfeiture of 10 properties linked to former Zamfara governor Abdulaziz Yari.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who gave the order following an ex-parte motion moved by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, a lawyer to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), held that after perusing the ICPC application, he was inclined to grant the order.
According to the judge, granting the application will not deny anyone a fair hearing.
The interim order, the judge ruled, would last for 60 days to enable the ICPC to conclude its investigation, after which the commission could apply for final forfeiture.
The judge also directed the ICPC to publish the order in two national newspapers, notifying any interested party to approach the court and show cause why the property should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
The matter was adjourned to April 28 for a hearing on the motion for final forfeiture.
Some of the forfeited properties, according to the ICPC, are in Maryland, USA, Abuja, Kaduna, and Zamfara.
The ICPC had in January 2021, secured the permanent forfeiture of over $669,000 linked to Yari.
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