Everest Amaefule, Tobi Soniyi and Akinpelu Dada

The properties, located in Lagos and Abuja, include those alleged by the EFCC to have been acquired by Balogun with N1.565billion, being part of the sum he illegally amassed while in office.

The properties are a five bedroom detached house located at Road Three, Plot J, Victoria Garden City, and a block of six three-bedroom flats at Olusegun Aina Street, Park View Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Those in Abuja are the Shakir Plaza at Plot 1029, Cadastral Zone, A3, Garki II; Yasuha Plaza, Plot 1046, Adetokunbo Street, Wuse II; and two double-duplex apartments on 110 Tunis Street, Wuse Zone Six.

The properties were bought in the names of Ceejay Properties Nigeria Limited, Olatrade Nigeria Limited, and Renovations Constructions Limited, all companies in which the former police chief are said to have interests.

The EFCC, in a correspondence to tenants in the Shakir Plaza dated July 4 but administered on August 25, said it had appointed Diya, Fatimilehin and Company, a Lagos firm of estate surveyors and valuers, to manage the property.

The letter reads, "Following the interim forfeiture order by the Federal High Court, Lagos on the above mentioned, the commission wishes to inform you of the appointment of the under- mentioned firm of estate surveyors and valuers to manage the said property.

"You are therefore requested to give them maximum cooperation in this regard at all times and direct all matters concerning your tenancy to them."

The letter by Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde on behalf of the EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, also outlined the duties of the estate firm.

These include to demand and collect rents as and when due; to take charge of, manage and control the property Relationship; as well as to renew, terminate and document tenancies of the property.

The firm is also required to manage the property on day-to-day basis; evict any tenant; and re-let the offices as it deems fit and proper.

Shakir Plaza has 102 offices.

Firms engaged in businesses ranging from engineering to architecture occupy most of the offices. Some offices are however vacant.

An office at the complex goes for N360,000 per annum.

It was learnt that the same letter served on tenants at Shakir plaza was replicated for those occupying the five other properties.

When contacted, Counsel to Balogun, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, declined comment on the grounds that he was not holding brief for the companies named as the owners of the buildings.

At the office of Diya, Fatimilehin and Company, a female official in the Legal Department, said, “Where did you get your information ?

“We don’t talk to the press here. You should find out from the EFCC whatever information you need.

“I can’t confirm anything to you about our client.”

Another source in the company however, admitted that the anti-graft body had mandated them to manage some seized properties.

“Yes, the EFCC asked us to manage some properties. Invariably, those you are talking about are part of the properties.

“The EFCC uses professional managers for properties seized from suspects. You can’t allow such properties to be locked up and become derelict.

“We remit the proceeds to the court since the (Balogun’s) case is still in court.

“We are rendering a professional service. The EFCC gave other seized properties to other firms to manage. You know, there are many of such properties like those belonging to Amaka Anajemba and those facing trial for defrauding a Brazilian bank.”

Balogun is standing trial for corrupt enrichment while in office.

Counts seven, eight, nine, 10, 11 and 12 of the charges against him and seven others gave details of the properties.

Count seven for instance reads, "That you Tafa Adebayo Balogun being the former Inspector-General of Police, Ceejay Nigeria Limited and Gbenga Ajala, Relationship Manager, Abuja Branch of Fountain Trust Bank Plc (now at large) sometime in May 2004 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court did use the sum of N350 million which you knew represented the proceeds of crime with the aim of concealing the nature of proceeds of the said crime, to buy a block of six numbers of three-bedroom flats at Olusegun Aina Street, Park View Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos in the name of Ceejay Properties Nigeria Limited and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(1) of Money Laundering Act 2004.”

The PUNCH, Wednesday August 31, 2005