Cap. 9 Art. 678When owner is unknown. When property is to be returned by order of the court in its final judgment.

(1) Where the court in its final judgment has ordered that any property is to be returned but does not name the person to whom the property is to be so returned and the identity of that person is unknown that property shall be retained by the registrar for a period of six months within which period any person claiming to have a legal title to the property may come forward and claim the property.

(2) Where the person having a legal title to the property fails to claim the property within the period specified in sub-article (1), or where the claims made in that period have been rejected by the court, the property shall be forfeited in favour of the Government.

(3) Any claim under sub-article (1) shall be made by application to the court before which the property was exhibited and shall be served on the registrar and on the Commissioner of Police or on the Attorney General, as the case may be, who shall have ten working days within which to file a reply. On the lapse of the time for the filing of a reply the court shall give its decision on the application and no appeal shall lie from that decision.

(4) If the court allows the application the property shall be delivered to the claimant free of charge.