Court rejects appeal by ex-Niger commissioner, others, affirms forfeiture of assets

By Adeleye Kunle

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed a plea filed by Baba Chado Kantigi claiming ownership of House No. 10, Kinshasa Street in Wuse Zone 6.

A three-man panel led by Justice Bature Isah Gafai dismissed the appeal.

Kantigi is claiming ownership of the property linked to Liman Kantigi.

The latter was Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, while Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu was Niger governor.

The former commissioner was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC).

In 2017, the EFCC confiscated properties linked to Kantigi after intelligence indicted him for money laundering and fraudulent acquisition of assets.

The anti-graft agency linked another property, Block 5, Flat 3, Divo Street, Foreign Affairs Quarters in Abuja, to him.

In the judgment, Justice Gafai dismissed the appeal and directed that the property be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Others who lost properties and are at different stages of appeal are: Janet Ojeneti Enemosah – Block 4, Flat 3, Foreign Affairs Quarters; Rakiya Baba – Block 5, Flat 3 in the quarters.

However, Olalekan Olakehinde lost a Mercedes Van 2014 model, Toyota Land Cruiser bulletproof 2013, Toyota Tundra 2014, Volkswagen Passat 2013, and Mini Cooper Countryman 2013.