A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled in favor of the federal government, ordering the permanent forfeiture of two properties linked to Aminu Garunbaba, an official of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, Justice Obiora Egwuatu stated that Garunbaba failed to provide evidence of legitimate sources for the funds used to acquire the assets.
The properties include a four-bedroom terrace maisonette with a boys’ quarters at Barumark Groove Estate, Plot 667, Cadastral Zone BO3, Wuye District, Abuja, purchased under the name MYZ Venture. The second property is located at No. 5 Lodge Road, Kano.
Justice Egwuatu noted that Garunbaba did not submit any documentation proving the lawful acquisition of the properties, emphasizing that individuals cannot benefit from assets linked to illicit activities.
Additionally, the court dismissed Garunbaba’s preliminary objection, which sought to challenge the admissibility of evidence presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The judge upheld the EFCC’s argument that public officials can face prosecution regardless of any internal disciplinary process.
The EFCC, represented by counsel Martha Babatunde, filed the case under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/876/2021, seeking the final forfeiture of the properties. The request was based on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The anti-graft agency had earlier secured an interim forfeiture order, which was published in two national newspapers. Since Garunbaba failed to provide a compelling defense, the court granted the final forfeiture.
An affidavit by EFCC operative Apagu Wudah detailed findings of an investigation that uncovered a fraudulent scheme involving Garunbaba and some of his FIRS colleagues. Between 2017 and 2018, they allegedly embezzled millions of naira by claiming duty tour allowances (DTA) for non-existent trips.
Investigators revealed that the funds were shared among several officials, including a former finance director and a coordinating director. Garunbaba, in a statement given in the presence of his legal counsel, admitted that N269,335,750 was distributed among top officials. This included N145 million allocated to Peter Hena, N95 million to Bello Auta, and N29.3 million to Aminu Sidi.
He further confessed that some of the money was collected in cash at the FIRS office, while a portion was received through his Stanbic IBTC Bank account. Additionally, he converted some funds into U.S. dollars through a bureau de change run by Wan Jafar Shehu.
In 2018, Garunbaba purchased the Abuja property for N65 million from Barumark Investment and Development Company Ltd, using funds transferred from his First Bank account. The Kano property was bought for N39 million from Alakhillau Enterprises, owned by Adamu Muhammed.
The EFCC concluded that both properties were acquired while Garunbaba was actively involved in the fraudulent diversion of DTA funds, rather than through legitimate earnings as a public servant.
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