A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the permanent forfeiture of $49,700 allegedly recovered from a former Resident Electoral Commissioner in Sokoto State.
Justice Emeka Nwite yesterday directed that the money, which security operatives seized from Dr Nura Ali’s residence, be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had posted Dr Ali to serve as REC during the general elections in Sokoto State when security agents recovered the foreign currencies following a search of his house.
The money was said to have been offered as bribe to the former electoral official.
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, through its lawyer, Mr Osuobeni Akponimisingha, had applied for the forfeiture order.
Akponimisingha informed the court that ICPC had complied with earlier interim orders by publishing a notice for interested parties to show cause why the funds should not be forfeited.
“Since the said publication was made, no one showed up to claim the funds as an interested party,” he told the court.
Justice Nwite granted the application after reviewing the submissions and affidavit evidence.
“I have listened to the submission of the learned counsel to the applicant and I have also gone through the affidavit evidence. I am of the view that the application is meritorious. Consequently, the application is granted,” the judge ruled.
The ICPC and the Department of State Services had on 30 December 2024 obtained an interim order allowing the Federal Government to retain the recovered funds following an ex parte application.
The motion had sought the court’s order to temporarily forfeit the money as “property suspected to be the proceed of an unlawful activity.”
