The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the permanent forfeiture of $49,700 allegedly recovered from Dr. Nura Ali, former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Sokoto State during the 2023 general elections.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order on Wednesday following a motion moved by counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Osuobeni Akponimisingha.
Akponimisingha informed the court that the ICPC had complied with an earlier interim order for temporary forfeiture of the money, including the publication of a notice inviting interested parties to show cause why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
He noted that no individual or entity came forward to claim the funds.
“We, therefore, seek an order forfeiting the sum of $49,700 US dollars to the Federal Government in view of the processes filed in respect of this matter from interim forfeiture to this stage, my lord,” the lawyer said.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite agreed that the application was meritorious.
“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 held.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Nwite had, on December 30, 2024, granted an interim forfeiture order on the funds following an ex-parte motion filed jointly by the ICPC and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) was listed as the applicant, while Ali was the sole respondent in the motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1846/2024.
The motion, filed on December 24, 2024, sought an order temporarily forfeiting the sum of $49,700 “recovered from one Dr. Nura Ali during a search operation by the Federal Government of Nigeria, being property suspected to be proceeds of an unlawful activity.”
It also requested the court to direct the ICPC and DSS to jointly conduct a preliminary investigation into the alleged unlawful activities of the former REC and to deposit the recovered money in an escrow account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The application further requested that a publication be made inviting anyone with interest in the funds to show cause why it should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
According to court documents, the money was recovered during a DSS search operation at Dr. Ali’s residence in Kano following an intelligence report alleging bribery involving political stakeholders during his tenure as REC for Sokoto State.
“The alleged moveable property of $49,700.00 was bribe money received by Dr. Nura Ali when he was the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Sokoto State,” the applicant stated.
It added that “the alleged moveable property is not the legitimate earning of Dr. Ali as Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner,” and that “the alleged moveable property is suspected to be proceeds of crime.”
The applicant further argued that INEC does not pay staff salaries or allowances in U.S. dollars and that the forfeiture process was merely to preserve the funds pending investigation, not to deprive any legitimate owner.
During the earlier hearing, Akponimisingha told the court that a search at Ali’s residence led to the recovery of the money and that the former REC allegedly admitted that the funds were given to him by former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, and Senator Aliyu Wamakko.
In an affidavit deposed to by Iliya Markus, a litigation officer with the ICPC, it was disclosed that the DSS received intelligence suggesting Dr. Ali had collected bribes during his official duties.
Markus stated that the search operation, carried out jointly by DSS and ICPC operatives, led to the recovery of $49,700. He also said Ali had written letters to the DSS requesting the release of the seized funds, which were attached as exhibits.
The court had previously granted an interim order and adjourned the case for compliance with the publication directive and subsequent hearing.
With Wednesday’s ruling, the $49,700 recovered from the former INEC official has now been permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
