BLESSING OMALE, Abuja
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of N30.7 million allegedly linked to an ongoing investigation into suspected fraud involving some senior officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order while ruling on an ex parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2775/2025.
The application, moved last Friday by EFCC counsel, Emenike Mgbemele, sought the temporary forfeiture of the funds pending the conclusion of investigations and possible claims by interested parties.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the EFCC had placed sufficient material evidence before the court to justify the application.
He consequently ordered that the sum of N30.7 million be forfeited on an interim basis and directed the anti-graft agency to publish the forfeiture order in a national daily newspaper.
The publication, the court said, would allow any interested person to appear within 14 days and show cause why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The judge adjourned the matter until January 22, 2026, for the EFCC to report its compliance with the order for publication.
According to the EFCC, the funds are currently lodged in its Recovery Account with United Bank for Africa (UBA), account number 9058700029, under a manager’s cheque draft outstanding account.
The commission said the money was uncovered during investigations into allegations of fraudulent activities involving some high-profile NNPC officials, as well as other criminal petitions submitted to the agency.
In a supporting affidavit, the EFCC explained that its investigation led to the involvement of a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, Mr. Adamu Yakubu, whose name featured prominently during the analysis of banking documents obtained by investigators.
The commission said Yakubu was invited on September 2, 2025, and voluntarily made a statement.
Yakubu, according to the EFCC, submitted a ledger detailing records of his transactions, including the names of customers and the amounts of foreign currency sold.
Analysis of the ledger allegedly revealed that over N4 billion had been transferred to the accounts of various individuals and companies on the instruction of one Mr. Ibrahim Sani, identified as a staff member of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The EFCC said further investigations showed that the N30.7 million sought to be forfeited represented the balance still in Yakubu’s possession from funds he claimed were given to him by Sani.
On September 15, 2025, Sani was also invited by the commission and voluntarily made a statement.
In his statement, Sani reportedly admitted using Yakubu to transfer money to different individuals and companies, confirming that he often deposited large sums of money, mainly in dollars, with the BDC operator, who then transferred the naira equivalent to accounts provided by him.
However, the EFCC noted that Sani failed to verify or ascertain the source of the funds, which investigators reasonably suspect to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The commission added that Sani later denied ownership of the N30.7 million found in Yakubu’s account at the time of investigation, claiming that Yakubu was not holding any of his money as of September 15, 2025.
Both Yakubu and Sani, the EFCC said, denied ownership of the funds.
The EFCC disclosed that Yakubu has since raised four separate managers’ cheques in the name of the EFCC Recovery Account in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The commission maintained that the funds sought to be forfeited are proceeds of unlawful activities and should be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government at the conclusion of the case.
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