Court Orders Forfeiture Of $49,700 Recovered From Ex–INEC Official

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday ordered the permanent forfeiture of $49,700 allegedly recovered from Dr Nura Ali, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Sokoto State.

The funds were recovered during the 2023 general elections.

The court gave the order after counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Osuobeni Akponimisingha, moved a motion seeking the final forfeiture of the money.
Akponimisingha told the court that the ICPC had complied with its earlier order directing temporary forfeiture of the funds and that a public notice had been issued inviting any interested parties to show cause why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
He noted, however, that no objections or representations had been received since the publication.

“We therefore seek an order permanently forfeiting the sum of $49,700 to the Federal Government, in view of the compliance with the interim order and the absence of any opposition,” Akponimisingha said.
The court, in it’s ruling, held that the application had merit.

“I have listened to the submission of learned counsel for the applicant and carefully examined the supporting affidavit.

I am satisfied that the application is meritorious. Consequently, it is hereby granted,” the judge ruled.

The court had, on December 30, 2024, granted an interim forfeiture order following an ex parte motion jointly filed by the ICPC and the Department of State Services (DSS). The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1846/2024, sought temporary forfeiture of the recovered sum pending the outcome of further investigations.

The application, signed by Mr Usman Dauda, Director of Legal Services for the DSS, and filed by Akponimisingha on behalf of the ICPC, stated that the money was found during a search conducted by DSS operatives at Dr Ali’s residence in Kano.