A Nigerian court has finalized the seizure of over 335 million naira ($217,000) in assets and funds tied to alleged illicit activities, marking a significant step in the country’s anti-corruption efforts. The Federal High Court in Abuja approved the forfeiture of 27 properties—including a hospital, five petroleum stations, residential complexes, and vast land holdings—to the federal government after no claimants emerged during a mandatory public notice period.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the final order following a motion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, which argued the assets were proceeds of crimes under the Advance Fee Fraud and Related Offences Act. The ruling concludes a months-long process that began in August 2024, when the court first authorized an interim forfeiture. The EFCC had subsequently published details of the assets in Punch newspaper and on its website, inviting potential owners to contest the seizure.
“No person or entity came forward to establish ownership,” said EFCC official Tahiru Ahmed in court documents. “Granting this application serves justice without prejudice to any party.” The assets, spanning multiple states including Borno, Abuja, and Kaduna, feature prominently in Nigeria’s northern regions. Among the confiscated properties are Galaxy Hospital in Maiduguri, five fuel stations along major transport corridors, a four-bedroom duplex in Abuja’s upscale Guzape District, and over 60 hectares of farmland.
Bank accounts linked to seven businesses—most bearing the “Galaxy” name—were also permanently frozen, containing combined balances of approximately N333.3 million ($215,800). Notably, four of the accounts held zero balances at the time of forfeiture. The EFCC emphasized the seizure aligns with its mandate to recover wealth suspected of being acquired through fraud or corruption, though the identities of the alleged beneficiaries remain undisclosed.
Legal analysts note the case underscores Nigeria’s increased reliance on non-conviction-based asset forfeitures, which allow authorities to target ill-gotten gains even when criminal prosecutions face delays. Under the 2006 law cited in the motion, the government must demonstrate probable cause that assets derive from unlawful activities rather than secure a criminal conviction.
The ruling follows heightened scrutiny of Nigeria’s anti-corruption strategies amid persistent challenges in curbing graft. While the EFCC has secured multiple high-profile forfeitures in recent years, critics argue transparency about asset management post-seizure remains limited. Authorities have not yet disclosed plans for repurposing the confiscated properties, which include prime commercial and residential real estate.
