Yahaya Idris, the Yobe State Auditor-General, purchased 11 properties, which have been forfeited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The commission contended that the assets were purchased through the unlawful diversion of public funds in a document filed at the Federal High Court, Damaturu.
The anti-graft panel claimed that Mr. Idris benefited himself by putting phantom employees on the payroll of Yobe State local governments and buying the properties to launder the money.
Mukhtar Ahmed, the attorney for the EFCC, requested that the court order the forfeiture of the properties to the federal government. As a federal official, "the suspect is living above his means," he further stated to the court.
On Wednesday, the trial judge, Fadima Aminu, granted EFCC’s prayer and issued an order for the temporary forfeiture of the properties.
The judge also ruled that the order of forfeiture be published in any national newspaper, for the respondent or anyone having legal claims to the properties to appear before the court, “to show cause within 14 days why a final order of forfeiture should not be made”.
According to EFCC’s counsel, Mr Ahmed, the forfeited properties are Farsawa Plaza opposite First Bank of Nigeria Limited, along Gashua road, Damaturu, a mega plaza opposite Central Bank of Nigeria complex, situated along Gujba Road, Damaturu.
Others are 20 units of self-contained, four units of single rooms self-contained and two units of rooms and parlour self-contained apartments, situated opposite the Central Bank of Nigeria Complex, along Gujba road, Damaturu.
Other properties listed by the Commission are four units of rooms and parlour self-contained apartment, a fenced plot of land, three bedroom flats and BB shopping complex, all situated opposite the Central Bank of Nigeria complex, along Gujba road, Damaturu.
The rest are properties situated at plot C300 at 440 Housing Estate, Gujba Road and BB Lounge, beside Nishadi Kilishi, along Maiduguri road, Damaturu, Yobe State, the EFCC said.