Court orders forfeiture of fraudster’s N230.6m, $80.59 to FG.
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the final forfeiture of the sums of N210, 287, 697.45, N5,320,373.40, N15,008,809.79 and $80.59 belonging to a suspected Internet fraudster, Dehinbo Reuben, to the Federal Government.
Justice Saliu Saidu had on May 16, 2019 ordered an interim forfeiture of the sums following an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The judge also ordered the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in any national newspaper for the respondent, Reuben, or anyone who was interested in the sums to show cause why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
At the Tuesday proceedings, the judge, upon hearing the EFCC’s motion on notice, supporting affidavit and written address, ordered the final forfeiture of the various sums of money found by the anti-graft agency in the various accounts of the respondent domiciled in Guaranty Trust Bank to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Reuben, an alleged fraudster who specialised in identity theft, wire fraud and mail fraud, was arrested following an intelligence report received by the commission.
Investigation revealed that Reuben and his members obtained the stolen Personal Identification Information of over 250,000 individuals in the US and used the details to file fraudulent federal and state tax returns.
It was further revealed that the syndicate obtained monetary value on the fraudulent tax returns, using prepaid cards registered with the stolen information and third-party bank accounts.
(PUNCHNEWSPAPER)