The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided by Justice Inyang Ekwo, has ordered the final forfeiture of Sunflower Hotel Ltd, a multi-million-naira property in Kaduna State linked to former National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Tenebe. The hotel will now be transferred to the Federal Government following a ruling last Tuesday, which concluded proceedings on the property linked to alleged misappropriated funds.
The ruling stemmed from a motion filed by F.O. Dibang, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on June 21, calling for the hotel’s final forfeiture. Justice Ekwo, in his judgment, stated, “Order is hereby made forfeiting the property… reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Previously, on February 16, the court issued an interim preservation order for the hotel and instructed the EFCC to publish the order within 14 days in a national newspaper and on its website to invite any claims on the property. During this period, no individual or organization contested the hotel’s ownership.
An EFCC affidavit detailed an investigation into a conspiracy and diversion of public funds linked to former NOUN officials, including Monday Onyeme, ex-Chairman of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue and former NOUN Bursar. Allegedly, Onyeme conspired with staff to divert funds to companies in which he held interests. Crossbill International Ltd, one such company, received substantial sums, which were then funneled to entities such as Sunflower Hotel Ltd.
Investigators discovered that N275 million, traced to Prof. Tenebe’s account, was used to complete the hotel, an unfinished property originally acquired from his brother-in-law. Documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission further confirmed that Tenebe had no official ownership or directorial role in Sunflower Hotel Ltd, suggesting the funds used were tied to NOUN.
In support of the final forfeiture, the EFCC argued that transferring the property to federal control serves the public interest, ensuring accountability for misappropriated funds allegedly originating from NOUN.
The case, referenced as FHC/ABJ/CS/33/2024, lists the EFCC as the applicant and Sunflower Hotel Ltd as the respondent. The hotel is located at Sunflower Crescent, Unguwan Maigero Road, Narayi, Kaduna State.
