Court Orders Permanent Forfeiture Of $49,700 Seized From Former INEC Commissioner

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, October 29, ordered the permanent forfeiture of $49,700 allegedly recovered from Dr. Nura Ali, the former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Sokoto State, to the Federal Government.

The ruling followed an application filed by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), who informed the court that due process had been followed after an earlier interim forfeiture order was granted.

Akponimisingha told the court that the ICPC had published a public notice inviting any interested persons to show cause why the funds should not be permanently forfeited. However, he said no objections were filed, nor did any party appear to claim ownership of the funds.

“We therefore seek an order forfeiting the sum of $49,700 to the Federal Government in view of the processes filed in respect of this matter from interim forfeiture to this stage, my lord,” the ICPC lawyer stated.

Delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite agreed with the submission, describing the application as “meritorious.”

“I have listened to the submission of the learned counsel to the applicant and have also examined the affidavit evidence. I am of the view that the application is meritorious. Consequently, the application is granted,” the judge declared.

The court had previously, on December 30, 2024, issued a temporary forfeiture order on the same funds following an ex parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1846/2024, with the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the applicant and Dr. Ali as the sole respondent.

The Federal Government had argued that the recovered cash was not part of Dr. Ali’s legitimate earnings as an INEC official, noting that the commission does not pay salaries or allowances in U.S. dollars.

The ICPC maintained that the seized sum was suspected to be proceeds of crime, prompting the legal action that culminated in Wednesday’s final forfeiture order.