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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja for a final forfeiture order against Sunflower Hotel Kaduna. The property is linked to Professor Vincent Ado Tenebe, a former Vice Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), and other staff members accused of diverting over N275 million from the university’s bank accounts.
The EFCC’s motion on notice, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/33/2024, alleges that Sunflower Hotel Kaduna is among the assets suspected to be proceeds of crime. The allegations involve Monday Onyema, a former Bursar of NOUN, Adamu Danlami, and Professor Vincent Ado Tenebe, who are under investigation for conspiracy and stealing public funds.
According to the EFCC’s counsel, Francis Usani, the sum of N275,081,896.90, presumed to be diverted from NOUN’s accounts by Professor Tenebe, was used to renovate and complete the Sunflower Hotel. Usani argued that this constituted the diversion of public funds and noted that attempts to apprehend the purported owners of the property have been unsuccessful, with no one coming forward to claim ownership.
An affidavit by EFCC staff member Hayatudeen S. Ahmed stated that the suspects, who are currently at large, allegedly conspired with other NOUN staff to divert public funds into companies where they had interests, using these companies to fund their projects.
The EFCC has requested the court to prevent the sale or use of the hotel and has called for any interested parties to show cause why the hotel should not be forfeited to the federal government. Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the EFCC’s request, ordering the preservation of Sunflower Hotel on the grounds that it is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
The EFCC has since filed a final forfeiture application against the property, maintaining that it is suspected to be the result of unlawful activities. The case was mentioned in court on Friday and has been adjourned to September 30 for judgment.
The EFCC is a federal agency responsible for tracking and prosecuting financial crimes. The Federal High Court serves as a court of first instance for both criminal and civil proceedings.
