Court orders final forfeiture of NOK University assets to Federal Government

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of all assets belonging to NOK University in Kaduna State to the Federal Government.

In her judgment yesterday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that Anthony Hassan, the university’s promoter, failed to provide convincing evidence that the assets were not acquired with proceeds from criminal activities.

In addition to the university, Hassan, a former Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA) in the Federal Ministry of Health, will also forfeit three other investments: Gwasmyen Water Factory, Gwasmyen International Hotel, and Gwasmyen Event Center, all located in Kaduna.

The forfeited physical assets of NOK University include the Senate building, ICT building, Faculty of Medicine building, Science Deanery building, two academic buildings, a Faculty Hall, and other structures.

Justice Abdulmalik dismissed claims by Hassan and his company, KYC Inter-Project Limited, that the university was funded by other investors. She also rejected the ownership claim by Barrister Victor Olisah concerning the six plots of land on which Gwasmyen International Hotel is built, due to lack of credible evidence.

The judgment followed an application for final forfeiture by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had previously secured an interim forfeiture order in 2022. Justice Abdulmalik noted that the EFCC, represented by lawyer Ekele Iheanacho, provided sufficient evidence showing that Hassan acquired the assets with illicit funds.

The court found that Hassan and KYC failed to provide convincing documentary evidence tracing the financial sources used to acquire the assets.

The EFCC’s investigation revealed that Hassan, a career civil servant, used his position to gain undue advantages. According to the EFCC, Hassan held various roles in multiple ministries from 2001 to 2020, including the Federal Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Ministry of Niger Delta, the Ministry of Youth and Sport Development, and the Ministry of Works and Housing.

Hassan was named as the owner of NOK University, which was incorporated on October 6, 2021, with his wife and children listed as directors and guarantors, though his name was not included.

The EFCC further stated that Hassan funded the acquisition of the university’s land and buildings, and he also owned Gwasmyen International Hotel, Gwasmyen Events & Recreational Centre, and Gwasmyen Water and Juice Company Nigeria Ltd, registering these businesses under his wife and son’s names with the Corporate Affairs Commission.