Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of Building Linked To Suspected Drug Trafficker

Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the permanent forfeiture of a property at 14, Okechukwu Madueke Street, Star-Times Estate, Okota, Lagos State, linked to a suspected drug trafficker, Chidibest Ibewuike, who is currently at large, to the federal government.

Justice Kakaki gave the order on Thursday after reviewing submissions from one of the lawyers to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ibrahim Abu, a Commander of Narcotics, who filed the case in suit FHC/L/MISC/1342/’25.

Abu had informed the judge that the application is based on Sections 36 (1), 44 (1), 44 (2) (b) & (k) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended), Sections 7, 9, 10, 11, 17, and 74 of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022, and the court’s inherent jurisdiction as outlined in Section 6 (6) (a) of the same Constitution.

The lawyer maintained that the application is supported by an affidavit of ten paragraphs sworn by Okonkwo Ebuka Anthony, a litigation officer at the Prosecution and Legal Services Unit of NDLEA’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport Strategic Command, along with a written address and other documents.

He further argued that the grounds for final forfeiture include the suspicion that the properties are connected to illicit activities, specifically drug trafficking and that the ownership of the properties remains unknown.

Abu further stated that investigations by the Lagos State Lands Bureau revealed no ownership details; a preservative order was issued on December 10, 2025, and advertised in national newspapers within 14 days.

He also told the court that the advertisement appeared on page 26 of PUNCH Newspapers on December 18, 2025. No objections or claims have been made since the order’s publication.

After listening to the lawyer, Justice Kakaki granted the NDLEA’s request for final forfeiture, declaring the property at 14, Okechukwu Madueke Street, as proceeds of drug trafficking.

Part of the affidavit filed in support of the application states, “On February 10, 2024, a freight agent from Matt Pee Logistics was arrested with 49.70 kg of heroin hidden in cutting machines. Investigations implicated Chidibest Ibewuike as part of the syndicate involved in importing the drugs.

“Further inquiries suggest that he likely owns the property listed. Since then, Ibewuike has been at large, and efforts to locate him have failed.

“The true owner of the property remains unknown. The property is suspected to be derived from illegal activities, specifically trafficking in 49.70 kg of heroin.

“The properties for which final forfeiture is being sought are now believed to have been obtained through illegal activities, specifically drug dealing or trafficking.

“The ownership of these properties remains unknown. Investigations at the Lagos State Lands Bureau’s Registrar of Titles did not reveal who owns the properties listed in the schedule of this application.

“An interim preservatory order was issued by this Honourable Court on December 10, 2025, and was ordered to be advertised in a widely circulated national newspaper within 14 days.

“The order was published on page 26 of PUNCH Newspapers on December 18, 2025. Since then, there has been no contest or interest shown by anyone regarding the properties listed in the schedule, nor was there any opposition to the preservatory order after the advertisement.

“The Applicant is legally required to apply for the preservation and advertising order to notify the owners and any interested parties about the properties. No interested persons contested the advertisement.

“The court can now proceed to issue a final forfeiture order based on the balance of probabilities. The Applicant has fulfilled all legal requirements, ensuring that the interests of the Respondent and third parties are fully protected.”