Court Orders Final Forfeiture of Hotel Linked to Ex-NOUN VC

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of Sunflower Hotel Ltd., a multimillion-naira property in Kaduna State linked to Prof. Vincent Tenebe, former Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). The decision, issued on Tuesday and reviewed on Monday, came in response to a motion filed on June 21 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). “Order is hereby made forfeiting the property… reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, to the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Justice Ekwo declared.

The case began when the court granted an interim preservation order on February 16 for Sunflower Hotel, directing the EFCC to publicise the order within 14 days to notify any claimants. This order followed intelligence received by the EFCC in December 2022, alleging conspiracy, theft, and diversion of funds involving Monday Onyeme, former Chairman of Delta State Board of Internal Revenue and ex-bursar of NOUN, and Adamu Danlami, owner of Crossbill International Ltd, both currently at large.

EFCC investigations revealed that Onyeme allegedly conspired with NOUN staff to divert public funds to companies with which he was connected. Crossbill International Ltd. was a major recipient of these funds, which were then funnelled to other entities, including Sunflower Hotel Ltd. Evidence submitted by the EFCC demonstrated that approximately N275 million, traced to Tenebe’s account, was used to acquire and complete Sunflower Hotel.

Documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission indicated that while Prof. Tenebe was not listed as a director or shareholder of Sunflower Hotel Ltd., he allegedly used misappropriated funds to secure and finish the hotel, initially an incomplete structure owned by his brother-in-law. Following the court’s interim order, the EFCC published a compliance notice on March 5, during which no claims were made to contest the hotel’s ownership.

With the final forfeiture order now in place, the Federal Government, through the EFCC, will assume control of Sunflower Hotel on behalf of NOUN. The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/33/2024, underscores ongoing efforts by the EFCC to recover assets linked to corruption and financial mismanagement.