The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC) has raised alarm over the rate owners of multi-billion naira
housing estates in Abuja abandon their property the moment the commission
initiates an investigation into their ownership status.
Its Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, who stated this in
Abuja on Monday said the development has become a great worry to the
commission and other anti-corruption agencies.
Owasanoye, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr.
Esa Onoja, also raised concerns over illicit financial flows abroad and estates
springing up every day in different locations in the Federal Capital Territory
(FCT).
The ICPC chair spoke as a special guest at a Forum of
Special Anti-Corruption Situation Room, organised by the Human and Environmental
Development Agenda (HEDA).
According to him, in many cases where Non-Conviction Assets
Forfeiture proceedings are initiated against the numerous sprawling estates,
nobody comes forward to claim ownership.
He explained that the ICPC has initiated a number of
Non-Conviction Assets Forfeiture proceedings, in line with Section 17 of the
Advanced Free Fraud Act.
Owasanoye added that Sections 37 and 38 of the ICPC Act also
empowered the commission to initiate such proceedings in court, where there is
a suspicion that such assets were proceeds of crime.
“Where nobody comes forward to claim ownership after
publication of Temporary Forfeiture Orders from the courts, the assets become
the property of the Federal Government,” he said.
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