Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of Sunflower Hotel Ltd. in Kaduna State, linked to former Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Vincent Tenebe, to the Federal Government.
The ruling, issued last Tuesday and reviewed by PUNCH Online on Monday, followed a motion for final forfeiture filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on June 21.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo stated, “Order is hereby made forfeiting the property set out in the attached schedule, found in possession of the respondent, as properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The court had previously granted an interim preservation order on February 16, directing the EFCC to publish a notice in a national newspaper and on its website, giving any potential claimants 14 days to come forward.
The EFCC’s investigation revealed that Monday Onyeme, former Chairman of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue and ex-Bursar of NOUN, conspired with others to divert public funds to companies with which he had affiliations, including Crossbill International Ltd.
The investigation traced misappropriated funds from NOUN to several entities, including Sunflower Hotel Ltd. It found that N275,081,896.09, allegedly diverted by Prof. Tenebe, was used for the acquisition and construction of the hotel, which he had purchased from his brother-in-law, Yakubu Mamman Akhagbeme.
Though Prof. Tenebe was not listed as a director or shareholder of Sunflower Hotel Ltd, evidence indicated that funds presumed to be diverted from NOUN were used for the hotel’s development.
In compliance with the interim order, the EFCC published the notice on March 5 and filed an affidavit of compliance. No individual or entity contested the hotel’s ownership during the publication period.
The final forfeiture request by the EFCC emphasised the need for the Federal Government to take over the property for public interest and to ensure proper management on behalf of NOUN. The case, referenced as FHC/ABJ/CS/33/2024, lists the EFCC as the applicant and Sunflower Hotel Ltd as the respondent, with the property located at Sunflower Crescent, Unguwan Maigero Road, Narayi, Kaduna State.
