The Federal Government, on Wednesday, urged That the Federal High Court in Abuja to Create an Arrangement of interim forfeiture to Empower it to Carry over the Resources and Also the headquarters of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, at Abuja, pending the Conclusion of Their criminal case against the Team and its commandant, Dickson Akor.

The Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, also on Wednesday amended the charges it earlier preferred against Akor and Peace Corps, by reducing the number of counts from 90 to 13.

The prosecution accused Akor and Peace Corps of money laundering and fraud involving the sum of N1.2bn allegedly obtained from unsuspecting Nigerians.
Moving the motion for interim forfeiture of Peace Corps’ assets on Wednesday, Mr. James Idachaba of the Legal Unit of the Police Federal Capital Territory Command, told Justice John Tsoho that Peace Corps’ property situated at No. 57, A. Abubakar Crescent, Off Alex Ekwueme Way, Opposite Jabi Lake, Abuja, “was used to commit crime.”

Idachaba also prayed the court to direct security agencies to seal off the property.

He anchored his application on the provisions of Section 330 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, and Section 14 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences Act.

Opposing the motion, however, Peace Corps, through its lawyer, Mr. John Ochogwu, alleged that the police had already sealed off the property before approaching the court for the order of interim forfeiture.

Ochogwu argued that the motion was an attempt by the government “to legalise” police’s act of “illegality.”

Peace Corps also filed a counter-motion dated October 6, seeking an order directing the police to unseal its headquarters.

Ochogwu also prayed the court to direct one of its officials to visit the said property with a view to verifying whether or not it was previously sealed off and constantly watched by armed policemen.

Justice Tsoho fixed January 15 to deliver ruling on the two applications.

Earlier in the proceedings, a lawyer from the AGF’s office, Mrs. T. V. C. Kuku, had told the court that further investigations had revealed new facts which she said necessitated the amendment to the charges.

She urged the judge to give the prosecution time to allow it to influence service of the amended prices on the defendants.

The court had on March 29 awarded Akor bond in the amount of N30m, after his arraignment on the 90 counts.

From the first 90 counts, the prosecution accused the defendants of money laundering involving capital supposedly obtained through criminal action against Section 7(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud associated Offences Act, Cap A6 legislation of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under exactly the exact same part of this Act.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/fg-releases-more-anger-on-peace-corps-over-alleged-n1-2bn-fraud/