The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the permanent forfeiture of $49,700 recovered from Dr Nura Ali, former Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Sokoto State.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the ruling on Wednesday, after counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, moved a motion for final forfeiture.
The ICPC told the court that the interim order for temporary forfeiture had been complied with and that a public notice was published to invite interested persons to show cause. However, no claimant came forward.
Delivering judgment, Justice Nwite said the application was meritorious and ordered that the money be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The funds were recovered during a joint search operation by the ICPC and the Department of State Services, DSS, at Dr Ali’s residence in Kano. Investigators alleged that the money was part of bribes received during his tenure as INEC REC for Sokoto State.
The court had in December 2024 granted an interim forfeiture of the sum pending investigation. The ICPC maintained that INEC does not pay its officials or Resident Electoral Commissioners in U.S. dollars.
The anti-graft agency added that the forfeiture was to preserve the funds suspected to be proceeds of crime, as the former REC failed to provide a legitimate explanation for its source.
