The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday secured the final forfeiture of a hospital linked to former governor Rochas Okorocha’s principal secretary, Paschal Obi.
Justice T.G Ringin of a Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, granted EFCC’s prayers to seize Dews of Hope Hospital and hand over same to the federal government.
The N1.5 Billion state-of-the-art 200-bed health facility is located in Imo.
According to the EFCC, Obi, like members of the board of the hospital, vehemently denied ownership of the medical facility.
“The managing director of the hospital on invitation, could not also explain how the hospital was funded”, its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren said.
“These developments led the Commission to file for the forfeiture of the property on July 25, 2019 under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.
“In granting the request for the interim forfeiture of the property, the court ordered the anti-graft agency to publish the order in a national newspaper, which was accordingly complied with in the Nation Newspaper of August 30, 2019 and Leadership Newspaper of September 3,2019 respectively, asking interested parties to show cause why the property should not be forfeited to the federal government within fourteen days from the dates of the publications.
“Upon the expiration of the fourteen day notice and with no one showing interest in the hospital, the Commission filed for the final forfeiture of the facility.”
The hospital located at the heart of Owerri metropolis, had an adjourning staff and doctor’s quarters.
