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) for Sokoto State during the 2023 general elections.
The order followed an application filed by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Moving the motion, Akponimisingha informed the court that the ICPC had complied with an earlier interim forfeiture order by publishing a notice inviting any interested parties to show cause why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
He noted, however, that since the publication, no one had come forward to claim ownership of the money or to contest the forfeiture.
“We therefore respectfully seek an order for the final forfeiture of the sum of $49,700 to the Federal Government, having fulfilled all legal requirements from the interim stage to this point,” Akponimisingha submitted.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite agreed with the ICPC counsel, holding that the application was properly made and supported by sufficient evidence.
“I have considered the submission of counsel and examined the affidavit evidence before the court. I find merit in the application and therefore grant it,” the judge ruled.
Justice Nwite had earlier, on December 30, 2024, ordered the temporary forfeiture of the funds following an ex-parte motion filed by the Federal Government in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1846/2024, with Dr. Ali listed as the sole respondent.
The Federal Government argued that the funds did not represent the legitimate earnings of Dr. Ali as an INEC official and were suspected to be proceeds of crime, noting that INEC does not pay its personnel in U.S. dollars as salaries or allowances.
0 Comments