The Federal High Court (Lagos Division) has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to seize the assets of Lagos society woman, Ms Nora Olumide Johnson over financial impropriety.
Justice A. Lewis Allagoa, who presided over the case, gave the order.
The anti-graft agency had received a petition over some financial infractions allegedly committed by Johnson in her former office.
It was learnt that Johnson was accused of over invoicing on purchase of vehicles, inflating air ticket fares and more, noting that the amount in local and foreign currencies were in excess of One billion Naira (N1 billion).
This then prompted the interim forfeiture of some properties and bank accounts on the order of Justice A.M. Liman on February 16, 2021, following an application on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria by the EFCC.
However, on March 21, 2021, Johnson and the other respondents: Babajide Aremu Johnson, Olabose Ibrahim Falobi, Steve Nnamdi Izebu, Steve Ibem and Bakoliza Limited went to court to suspend or stay execution on Justice Liman’s order.
They had sought the following: an order to discharge the interim order of forfeiture of assets, an order discharging the final forfeiture and any other orders as deemed fit by the court.
In his judgment after hearing J.O. Adeyemi Esq, counsel for the applicant/respondent and V.C. Nwokafor, Counsel for the 1st, 2nd and 6th respondents/applicants, Justice Allagoa ordered that the motion of Johnson and the other respondents dated March 12, 2021 is “hereby set aside.”
The judgment delivered on July 15, 2021 stated further: “That the order of Justice Liman stands in all its ramifications” and “That the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are entitled to take possession of all that property subject of the order of my Lord A.M. Liman on 16th day of February, 2021.”
Interestingly, maybe as a reaction to this court ruling, knowing fully well that Nigerians like the story of the underdog, Johnson has released a viral video where she was seen wailing, begging and making wild allegations.
Those who know the root of the story say the woman was only blackmailing and being melodramatic with the release of the video and that she had employed every means to prevent the Federal Government from taking possession of her assets as has been ordered by the court.
EFCC sources say her fellow conspirators have refunded over N400 million of the money looted which proves the fact that there is prima facie case against her. Discerning members of the public are therefore wondering why she won’t prove her innocence in court if indeed she believes there is no case against her or that she is being witch-hunted.