Court Grants ICPC Application for Permanent Forfeiture of $49,700 Linked to Former INEC Official
The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, has ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of $49,700 recovered from Dr. Nura Ali, former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Sokoto State, to the Federal Government.
Delivering judgment, Justice Nwite held that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had satisfied all statutory requirements for the grant of a final forfeiture order, noting that no objections were filed by any interested party.
I have listened to the submissions of learned counsel for the applicant and carefully examined the supporting affidavit. I am satisfied that the application is meritorious. Consequently, it is hereby granted,” the court ruled.
Counsel to the ICPC, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, had moved the motion for final forfeiture, submitting that the Commission had complied with the interim order earlier granted by the court. He informed the court that a public notice was duly published inviting objections, but none was received.
The ruling followed an interim forfeiture order made on 30 December 2024, upon an ex parte application jointly filed by the ICPC and the Department of State Services (DSS) in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1846/2024. The application, signed by Usman Dauda, Director of Legal Services of the DSS, disclosed that the funds were discovered during a search of Dr. Ali’s residence in Kano.
According to an affidavit deposed to by Iliya Markus, a litigation officer with the ICPC, intelligence reports alleged that Dr. Ali received illicit payments from political stakeholders while serving as REC in Sokoto during the 2023 general elections. The affidavit further stated that Dr. Ali admitted the funds were a “gift” from former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Senator Aliyu Wamakko, and had written to the DSS requesting the release of the seized sum.
The ICPC, however, argued that INEC does not remunerate its officials in foreign currency and that the funds were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
By this ruling, the $49,700 stands permanently forfeited to the Federal Government, underscoring the collaborative efforts of the ICPC and DSS in combating electoral-related corruption.
