March 16, 2022

Justice Emeka Anwuli Chikere of a Federal High Court Sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 ordered the final forfeiture of a property and cash, suspected to be proceeds of crime, linked to a retired Air Force Chief, Air Vice Marshal Saliu Atawodi and his wife, Winnie.

The property measuring about 57933.69 square metres, controlled by Vector Integrated Services Limited,   is located at No 3004 Cadastral Zone E05, Aviation Village District Abuja.  The monies include $228,428.16 USD and N120, 546,042.02.

While ruling on an application brought by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, No14, 2006, Justice Chikere held that the EFCC had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the property and said amount are proceeds of crime as defined by the Money Laundering Prohibition Act of 2011.

He noted that, in the absence of any objection to the notice of interim forfeiture which  had been published for interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be finally forfeited, the Court ordered the final forfeiture of the property and monies to the Federal Government.

Atawodi was a former Chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Safety and Security (PICOMSS).