ICPC seizes ‘Ambassador’s’ property

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission in a Public Notice dated May 28, 2013 announced the seizure of a three-Bedroom bungalow, known as ‘Ambassador Cottage’, belonging to “Ambassador”Akinyemi Badejogbin, at Alhaji Abduwajeed Ejias Avenue, situated directly opposite Cherubim and Seraphim Church of Zion, off Reformation of Christ Street, Owode Elede Junction, Mile 12, Lagos.
The Seizure Order was signed by the Chairman of the ICPC, Barrister Ekpo Nta, pursuant to Section 45 (4) (a)-(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Act 2000.
The action, a statement by the ICPC said on Sunday, is in respect of an ongoing investigation contained in a petition received by the Commission in 2011 involving Akinyemi Badejogbin and Lanre Bakare over acts bordering on illegal diversion of public funds for their personal use.
Badejogbin and Bakare were alleged to have used their former positions as Co-ordinator and Treasurer, respectively, of the National Anti-Corruption Volunteers Corps, Lagos State chapter, to divert millions of Naira from the official NAVC Trustee Account into an illegally opened account named “NAVC Senatorial Account.”
The duo were said to have opened and operated the account purportedly on behalf of the NAVC in breach of official directives.
Badejogbin reneged on an agreement he voluntarily made in 2012 to refund the illegally diverted sums.
In a related development, the ICPC through a similar Public Notice dated May 22, 2013 has, in the course of an ongoing investigation, seized several movable and immovable properties belonging to a former banker, Olaniran Yemi-Aris, which in the opinion of ICPC is excessive, having regards to his past emoluments and present circumstances.
Specifically, the seized properties include: a bungalow building with boys quarters at Plot 9, Doma D Series Extension Layout and eight plots of land located at Phase III, Residential Layout III and CKC Extension Layout, all in Gwagwalada, Abuja; six plots of land located at Paiko, Niger State; Plot 26 (Block IX) located at Obalorisa Layout in Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State and other plots of land located at Olorunsogo and Osogbo, in Osun State; and a Toyota Camry saloon car.