The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday handed over 14 properties seized from some companies to Enugu State Government.
The assets were initially forfeited to the Federal Government in the course of the investigation of former governor Chimaroke Nanamani.
But the properties have now been ceded to the government and the people of the state.
Following diligent prosecution by EFCC, the Federal High Court in Lagos on July 7, 2015, ordered that four companies associated with Nnamani be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The four companies, which were identified as Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Limited and Renaissance University Teaching Hospital, pleaded guilty on May 19, 2015.
The firms were convicted by Justice Mohammed Yunusa after pleading guilty to a 10-count amended charge against them by the EFCC.
Apart from N35million and landed properties, some of the assets forfeited to the Federal Government through a court order in 2015 included 22 duplexes in Ebeano Under Tunnel Estate now known as Fidelity Estate; Renaissance University Teaching Hospital; Cosmos 105.5 FM Digital Station (Ceuna Communications); and Capital City Automobile Limited, located at 12 Station Road, GRA, Enugu.
Other properties were of Hill Gate Investment which including Plot Number H12, H13, H14, H15, H21, H116, H188, Plot 10, Plot H11, Plot H16, Plot H17, Plot H18, Plot 19, Plot H20, Plot H49, Plot H50, Plot H117, CP/4 (HCR2), CP5 (HCR2) CP/6(HCR2) CP/7 (HCR2) CP/8.
The assets also included several undeveloped properties and plots of land of Rainbownet Nigeria Limited in Enugu, Abakaliki, Aba, Owerri, Onitsha, Awka and Umuahia.
Also, the property of Rainbownet Communication including BTS, Microwave Avenue Radio, Rectifiere, and many equipment in various sites in Anambra were ordered to be forfeited to the Federal Government.
But following a request by the state, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conceded that the assets be transferred back to the state.
According to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Dele Oyewale, the transfer of the properties to Governor Peter Mbah was performed by the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede at the commission’s corporate headquarters.
Olukoyede said the road to the forfeiture dates back to 2007.