Yari appealing embezzled N248m forfeiture order, says aide

A former governor of Zamfara State Abdulaziz Yari , has appealed against the judgment of a Federal High Court , sitting in Abuja which ordered him to forfeit N 248 m to the Federal Government .
The Media aide to the former governor , Mayowa Oluwabiyi , said this in a statement in Abuja , on Sunday .
He assured members of the public that the appellate court would vindicate Yari .
Oluwabiyi said Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja , last Tuesday , ruled that Yari should forfeit $ 669 , 248 and N 24 .3 m to the government .
He , however , said, the court gave Yari , 14 days to show cause why he should not forfeit the money .
The statement read in part , “ The former governor had no reason to fear because he declared all the companies and businesses , he had to the Code of Conduct Bureau on assumption of office.
“ The CCB had cleared all the businesses . The ex – governor ’s legal team had already begun the process of appealing the judgement at the Court of Appeal
“ We hereby enjoin members of the public to await the final determination of the case and expressed optimism that the verdict will vindicate the former governor . ”
Recall that a Federal High Court in Abuja last Tuesday ordered a final forfeiture of N 284, 306 , 294. 04 linked to Yari , to the Federal Government .
The money was said to have been lodged with Zenith Bank and Polaris Bank .
Justice Ojukwu , who gave the final forfeiture order , said, Yari could not prove the source of the funds traced to him .
Yari and two companies belonging linked to him ( Kayatawa Nig. Ltd and B .T . Oil and Gas Nig. Ltd .) were indicted for alleged fraud and were dragged to the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Commission .