Court Orders Forfeiture Of Gold Bars, N39m To Govt

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the forfeiture of 35.58 kilogrammes of gold bars and N36 million seized from a gold dealer and a federal civil servant by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to the Federal Government.

Justice Muslim S. Hassan, who made the order, also ordered the civil servant to pay N10million to the government for his part in the deal.

The first to third defendants are: Bukar Mandara Zarami; his company, Bukar Mandara Zarami Ltd; and a Director in the Ministry of Mines and Steel, Kar Nap Fenan Wuyep.

The trio were re-arraigned on an amended two-count charge of possession of 35.58 kilogrammes of gold bars wrapped in six bags without appropriate permit.

The counts read in part: “That you, Bukar Mandara Zarami, on or about the 9th day of November, 2018 in Nigeria…dealt in 35.58 kilogrammes of gold bars wrapped in six bags without appropriate permit; and you, therefore, committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 134(c) of the Nigerian Mineral and Mining Act, 2007.”

“That you, Kar Nap Fenan Wuyep, on or about the 22nd day of May, 2018 in Nigeria, without going through any financial institution, accepted cash payment of the sum of $19,440 from one Bakkkuk Steven Goyol, which sum exceeded the amount authorised by the Law; and, you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1)(a), Section 16(1) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as Amended and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”

The defendants pleaded guilty.