•Grants similar orders on N3.4bn, properties linked to alleged NNPC fraud
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, made an order for final forfeiture of a United Kingdom property linked to the late Jeremiah Useni, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to the Federal Government.
Justice Binta Nyako, in a ruling, held that the motion on notice for the final forfeiture of the property moved by counsel for the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Sufyan Ahmad, was meritorious and accordingly granted.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the house is located at No. 79, Randall Avenue, Neasden, London NW2 7SX.
The CCB, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2333/2025, had named the Administrators of the Estate of late General Jeremiah Useni, the Executors of the Estate of late General Useni and the Property No. 79, Randall Avenue, Neasden, London NW2 7SX as first to third respondents, respectively.
Ahmad told the court that the property sought to be forfeited is reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.
The lawyer, who gave four grounds why the application should be granted, submitted that the court has the inherent, as well as the statutory powers to exercise its discretion in the agency’s favour.
He said the provisions of Section 7, 17, 19 and 67 of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022, and Sections six and 44 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) gave the court the discretionary power.
He said the court granted an interim order of preservation of the said property on November 20, 2025.
The court also directed that the said order be published for persons, authority, whether corporate or otherwise, to indicate interest and file necessary process why the property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Ahmad said the order had been complied with by publishing same in a Tribune newspaper of March 4.
According to him, no persons or authority, whether corporate or otherwise, indicated interest and or filed any process contesting why the property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The lawyer urged the court to grant their relief.
NAN reported that hearing in the motion for final forfeiture of the house was, on January 26, stalled due to inability of Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to effect a proper service of the motion and hearing notice on the respondents.
The lawyer, however, filed a motion ex parte for substituted service of the court documents and hearing notice on interested person(s) through a newspaper publication which the court granted.
In the affidavit in support of the motion on notice for final forfeiture deposed to by a CCB’s investigator, Raji Rasaq, he said on November 28, 2025, the court granted an interim preservation order in respect of the property.
He said, pursuant to the said order, his office caused a publication to be made in a widely circulated national newspaper inviting any person with interest in the said property to show cause within 14 days why the property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Rasaq said since the publication, no person or entity had come forward to show cause or establish any legitimate interest in the property.
Issues orders on N3.4bn, properties linked to alleged NNPC fraud
Similarly, the Federal High Court, in Abuja, on Tuesday, made an order of final forfeiture of three properties and N3. 4 billion cash linked to allegations of fraud perpetrated at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a ruling on a motion on notice for final forfeiture of the assets moved by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC’s) lawyer, Martha Babatunde, granted the application, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has reported
The properties include: an uncompleted six-bedroom semi-detached duplex with boys quarters at Plot 3168, Asokoro District, Abuja; and a two-bedroom flat at Block 2, Apartment Al, Block EFG, Osbourne Foreshore II, Ikoyi, Lagos.
They also include a restaurant building at Plot 102, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, which is all in the name of Salihu Nuhu.
The money, which is in EFCC Recovery Account, is calculated as N3,440,000,000.00.
NAN reported that the forfeited properties and the funds were said to be proceeds of unlawful activities derived from three major projects awarded by the NNPCL to three contractors.
Ruling, Justice Abdulmalik observed that the lawyer, who appeared as interested party on March 31, said Jamari had no objection to final forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government.
“Consequently, I grant the order for final forfeiture of the properties and the funds attached to the motion to the Federal Government,” she ruled.