Yesterday, November 8, the Federal Government urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to make an order of interim forfeiture to enable it to take over the assets and the headquarters of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, in Abuja pending the determination of the criminal case against the group and its commandant, Dickson Akor.
The Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, also amended the charges it earlier preferred against Akor and Peace Corps, reducing the number of counts from 90 to 13.
The prosecution accused Akor and Peace Corps of money laundering and fraud involving the sum of N1.2bn allegedly obtained from unsuspecting Nigerians.
Moving the motion for interim forfeiture of Peace Corps’ assets on Wednesday, Mr. James Idachaba of the Legal Unit of the Police Federal Capital Territory Command, told Justice John Tsoho that Peace Corps’ property situated at No. 57, A. Abubakar Crescent, Off Alex Ekwueme Way, Opposite Jabi Lake, Abuja, “was used to commit crime”.
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Idachaba also prayed the court to direct security agencies to seal the property off.
He anchored his application on the provisions of section 330 of the Administration of Criminal Justice 2015, and section 14 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences Act.
Opposing the motion, Peace Corps, through its lawyer, Mr. John Ochogwu, alleged that the police had already sealed the property off before approaching the court for the order of interim forfeiture.
Ochogwu argued that the motion was an attempt by the government “to legalise” police’s act of “illegality”.
Peace Corps also filed a counter-motion dated October 6, seeking an order directing the police to unseal its headquarters.
Ochogwu also prayed the court to direct one of its officials to visit the said property with a view to verifying whether or not it was previously sealed and constantly watched by armed policemen.
Justice Tsoho fixed January 15 to deliver ruling on the two applications.
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