A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the permanent forfeiture of $49,700 allegedly recovered from Dr. Nura Ali, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner for Sokoto State. The order was given by Justice Emeka Nwite after counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, moved a motion for the permanent forfeiture of the funds.
According to Akponimisingha, the ICPC had complied with the court’s earlier interim order for the temporary forfeiture of the money. A publication was made calling for interested persons to show cause why the funds should not be forfeited permanently to the Federal Government, but no one came forward. The lawyer therefore sought an order forfeiting the sum to the Federal Government, which was granted by Justice Nwite.
The court had earlier ordered the temporary forfeiture of the seized funds on December 30, 2024, after the ICPC and the Department of State Service jointly filed a motion ex-parte. The motion sought an order temporarily forfeiting the sum of $49,700, which was recovered from Ali’s residence during a search operation. The applicant alleged that the money was proceeds of an unlawful activity and sought an order directing the FRN to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged unlawful activities of Ali.
The ICPC alleged that Ali received the money as bribe during his tenure as REC in Sokoto State. The commission said that INEC does not pay its staff in dollars, and that Ali had not reported the gift to any law enforcement agency as required by law. Ali had allegedly claimed that the money was given to him by former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, and Senator Aliyu Wamakko.
The investigation into the matter is ongoing, and the court has given the FRN 90 days to conduct a preliminary investigation and make a report to the court. The permanent forfeiture of the funds is a significant development in the case, and the court’s decision reinforces the government’s efforts to combat corruption and illicit financial activities. The outcome of the investigation and any further actions taken by the authorities will be closely watched.