Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has denied claims that he bought a recovered and devalued property from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Falani also refuted a claim by a witness who told the Federal High Court in Abuja that a property allegedly recovered from the Pension Reform Task Force, valued at six billion Naira was sold to him for one billion Naira in 2015.
The pension reform task force was headed by the embattled Abdulrasheed Maina who is being prosecuted by the EFCC.
Falana is quoted to have said the allegation against him was a ploy by the federal government to tarnish his reputation.
The senior lawyer explained that the property in question was never recovered by the presidential pension task force. He said the property was used as collateral by the owner, A. Group Properties Limited, with regards to a loan from a prominent bank in 2008.
According to Falana, the Asset Management of Nigeria (AMCON) took over the property via an order of interim forfeiture when the owner defaulted in the payment of the loan.
Further, he explained that in an attempt to liquidate the loan, the owner of the property wanted to sell it and his law firm agreed to buy the property but they withdrew due to the delay in resolving the case.
Falana noted that the case is still pending at the Federal High Court. Therefore, he challenged the federal government to go ahead to forfeit the money he purportedly paid and recover the property if it established that it was recovered by the pension task force.
Post Views: 600
