A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, has ruled in favour of the permanent confiscation of $49,700 recovered from Nura Ali, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Sokoto State.
The cash was seized during the 2023 general elections.
The permanent forfeiture order was granted following a motion brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
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ICPC Counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, informed the court that the commission had adhered to a previous interim order for the temporary seizure of the funds.
He noted that a public announcement, mandated by the court, had been issued to invite any interested persons to challenge why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
Since the publication, no individual or entity has come forward to claim the money or contest the forfeiture in court.
Justice Nwite declared the application was justified.
“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 legal process began on December 30, 2024, when Justice Nwite issued an interim forfeiture order after the ICPC and the Department of State Services (DSS) filed an ex parte motion.
The motion sought the temporary forfeiture of the funds recovered from Ali’s residence during a joint search conducted with a warrant.
The agencies were previously directed to deposit the funds in an escrow account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), publish a notice for interested parties, and conduct a preliminary investigation into Ali’s activities, submitting a report within 90 days.
According to the supporting affidavit, the funds were suspected to be proceeds of illicit activity.
The ICPC noted that INEC does not compensate its personnel in foreign currency and that the motion was necessary to protect the funds from being spent while the investigation was ongoing.
The affidavit, deposed to by ICPC litigation officer Iliya Markus, revealed that the money was found at Ali’s residence in Kano.
Furthermore, Ali’s extra-judicial statement reportedly confirmed he received $150,000 as a “gift” from former Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Aliyu Wamakko, and that the seized funds had not been declared to any law enforcement body as legally required.
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The case was previously adjourned to January 30, 2025, for a report on compliance with the publication directive, and later to March 31, 2025, for a full hearing.
With the lack of opposition, the court has now finalised the forfeiture of the $49,700 to the Federal Government, FG.
