By Odita Sunday
The Nigeria Police Force says it has secured a permanent forfeiture order on assets worth more than ₦2 billion and recorded another legal victory in a case involving a fundamental rights enforcement suit.
The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to him, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, granted a permanent forfeiture order against assets linked to Alonge Opeyemi Yetunde and her accomplices.
Placid said the assets include bank accounts, digital wallets, vehicles and real estate properties located in Lagos, Osun and Delta states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
He added that the principal suspect is currently remanded at the Suleja Correctional Custodial Centre and is facing fraud and money laundering charges.
The police spokesperson also disclosed that Justice Bello Kawu dismissed a ₦100 million Fundamental Rights Enforcement Suit filed by United States-based suspect David Imole Averehi against the Nigeria Police Force and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, INTERPOL.
According to Placid, the court ruled that judicial processes should not be used to obstruct lawful police investigations or shield criminal suspects from prosecution.
He said the judgment allows the INTERPOL National Central Bureau to proceed with the prosecution of Averehi over allegations of obtaining money under false pretences.
Placid reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to combating financial crimes through local and international collaboration.
