A Federal High Court sitting in Owerri has ordered the final forfeiture of Dew of Hope hospital linked to former governor Rochas Okorocha’s principal secretary, Paschal Obi, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC had initially secured an interim forfeiture of the N1.5 Billion state-of-the-art 200-bed health facility is located in Imo, on August 22, 2019.
The anti-graft agency said its investigation revealed that the property may have been acquired through proceeds of illicit activities.
After funds from the Government House, Owerri were traced to the hospital, Pascal Obi and other board members of the hospital, vehemently denied ownership of the medical facility, EFCC said.
The statement from EFCC’s Head, Media & Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren said;
“The Commission’s investigation revealed that Dr. Paschal Obi, former Permanent Secretary and Principal Secretary to then-Governor Okorocha, now a serving member of the House of Representatives, was a signatory to the accounts.”
“However, 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.
“These developments led the Commission to file for the forefeiture 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,”
After fourteen days which was the duration granted for the notice and no one showed up to explain why the property should not be forfeited, EFCC filed for the final forfeiture of the facility, which was granted by Justice T.G Ringin on Friday, December 6, 2019.
