Alleged N3.5bn Paris Club Fraud: Supreme Court Delivers Judgment June 7

The Supreme Court has disclosed that the ultimate decision on the forfeiture lawsuit involving N1,222,384,857.84 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Twenty-Two Million, Three Hundred and Eighty-Four Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Seven Naira, Eighty-Four Kobo), filed by Melrose General Services Limited, will be deferred until June 7, 2024.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission  (EFCC) made this known in a post on its X handle on Friday, March 15.

The post reads partly: "The Supreme Court of Nigeria, Abuja has reserved judgment till June 7, 2024  the final forfeiture suit  of N1,222,384,857.84 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Twenty Two Million, Three Hundred and Eighty Four Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty Seven Naira, Eighty Four Kobo) brought before it by  Melrose General Services Limited.

"The appellant is challenging the judgment of the Court of Appeal ordering the forfeiture of the money to the Federal Government of Nigeria,  being proceeds of an unlawful activity in the Paris Club fund involving Melrose General Services Limited.

"At the resumed session of the court on Thursday, March 14, 2024,  counsel to the appellant,  Kehinde Ogunwumiju informed the apex court of a motion seeking the setting aside of the judgment of the Court of Appeal on the premise that the money involved in the forfeiture suit is  not a  proceed of any unlawful activity but payment for a contractual and consultancy agreement. He prayed that the decision of the appellant  court on the forfeiture be reversed."