Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday ordered the interim forfeiture of a bank account of the immediate-past governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, and those of two other firms linked to him.
The two companies are Kayatawa Nigeria Limited and B.T. Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.
Justice Taiwo made the order following an ex parte application by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).
ICPC’s lawyer Mr. Osuobeni Akponimisingha, filed the application following an intelligence report that Yari and the two companies “are involved in some unlawful activity against the interest of the Zamfara State Government and by extension the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
The commission alleged that Yari and the companies received various funds belonging to the Zamfara State Government through their accounts with two commercial banks.
According to the commission, the funds in the various accounts remained only N24,289,910 and $669,248 as of the time of filing the applications.
The judge fixed September 11 for Yari and other parties interested in the proceeds of the accounts to appear in court to show cause why the monies should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
