Metro
Court Orders Temporary Forfeiture Of $49, 700 Recovered From Ex-INEC REC

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, ordered the temporary forfeiture of the sum of 49, 700. 00 US dollars allegedly recovered from Dr Nura Ali, former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for Sokoto State in the 2023 general elections.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after Osuobeni Akponimisingha, counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), moved an ex-parte motion to the effect.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) was the applicant, Ali was the sole respondent in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1846/2024.
The motion, dated Dec. 20 and filed Dec. 24, was jointly filed by the ICPC and the Department of State Service (DSS).
Mr Usman Dauda, the Director of Legal, signed the application on DSS’ behalf, Akponimisingha, Assistant Chief Legal Officer in ICPC, was part of the legal team that drafted the process.
The motion sought an order of the court temporarily forfeiting the sum of $49,700.00 (forty-nine thousand, seven hundred dollars), “recovered from one Dr. Nura Ali during a search operation by the Federal Government of Nigeria being property suspected to be proceed of an unlawful activity.”
It also sought an order directing the applicant i.e., the FRN, through the ICPC and the DSS to jointly conduct a thorough preliminary investigation into the alleged unlawful activities of Ali, in respect of the moveable property sought to be forfeited and make a report to the court within 90 days.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Court Grants Farotimi N30m Bail, Bars Media Interviews
It sought an order directing the applicant i.e., FRN, through the ICPC and the DSS to deposit the 49,700.00 dollars in an escrow account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN.
The application equally sought an order directing the applicant to publish a notice in any national newspaper calling for persons whether, human, juristic or artificial, having Interest in the money to show cause why it should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Giving nine grounds why the application should be granted, the applicant said the victim of the alleged crime was the Federal Government of Nigeria and innocent taxpayers which include judges of courts across the country.
It said the money was recovered during a search operation by operatives of the DSS at the residence of Ali.
“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 alleged moveable property is not the legitimate earning of Dr Ali as independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner.
“The alleged moveable property is suspected to be proceed of crime,” it said.
The applicant argued that INEC does not pay its staff members with United States Dollar as salaries or allowances.
It said the essence of the application was not to compulsorily acquire the alleged moveable property from the alleged owner, but to preserve the property from dissipation.
READ ALSO: Again, P’Harcourt Refinery Shuts Down After $1.5bn Rehabilitation
It said if the court grants the reliefs sought, interested persons including the alleged owner will be given opportunity to offer an explanation as to the legitimacy of the alleged property.
“Where cogent and verifiable explanation exists as to how the property was acquired, devoid of crime, the alleged owner or any other person having proprietary interest in the property will be allowed unrestricted possession of the property.
“This application is not in conflict with the provisions of Sections 43 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which guarantee the rights of citizens of Nigeria to acquire and own immoveable and moveable properties in any part of Nigeria,” it said.
When the matter was called, Akponimisingha, who appeared for the FRN, told the court that the motion ex-parte prayed the court for four orders.
The lawyer said four exhibits were attached to the motion, including Exhibit DSS 1 to Exhibit DSS 4.
He urged the court to grant the application in the interest of justice.
He said a search was conducted in Ali’s residence in Kano and the sum of 49, 700, 000 US dollars was retrieved from the building.
READ ALSO: UPDATED: Edo Govt, Assembly Lose As Court Reinstates Suspended LG Chairmen, Vice
He told the court that Ali allegedly said that the sum of $150, 000 US dollars was given to him by the former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, and Sen. Aliyu Wamakko.
The ICPC lawyer, who alleged that Ali made this disclosure in his extra-judicial statement to the DSS, said the former REC also wrote a letter to the security outfit in the bid to reclaim the money.
He insisted that INEC does not pay his workers or RECs in dollars.
Also in the affidavit in support of the motion ex-parte deposed to by Iliya Markus, a litigation officer with ICPC, he said that Akponimisingha informed him that he read through the case file and comprehended facts forming the allegations leading to the execution of e search warrant by operatives of the DSS at Ali’s residence.
Markus said the DSS received an intelligence report on Dr Ali on allegations of bribery received from stakeholders, i.e politicians in the course of his official duties as INEC REC in charge of Sokoto State.
He said the intelligence report was processed and residence of Ali in Kano was searched pursuant to a search warrant executed jointly by operatives of the ICPC and DSS.
“A copy of the search warrant is hereby attached and marked as exhibit DSS 1,” he said.
The officer said in the course of the execution of the search warrant, the sum of $47,000.00 was recovered from the house.
READ ALSO: Court Frees 50 Pro-Biafrans
According to him, Dr Ali also made statement(s) with respect to the search on his residence and the subsequent recovery of the alleged $49,700.00.
“A copy of the said extra-judicial statement is hereby attached and marked as exhibit DSS 2,” he said.
He said invitation letters had been written to invite persons he claimed gifted him the alleged $49,700.00.
“I also know as a fact that Dr Nura Ali did not report the gift of the alleged $49,700.00 to any law enforcement agency as required by extant laws of the land.
“Dr Ali had in the past written letters to the State Security Services requesting for release of the alleged $49,700.00 bribe money to him.
“Copies of the said letters are hereby attached and marked as exhibits DSS 3 & 4 respectively,” he said.
Markus said the investigation was yet to be concluded, hence, the need for the 90 days’ application.
Justice Nwite, who said that the application was meritorious, granted the prayers.
The judge adjourned the matter until Jan. 30, for report of compliance on the publication in the media and adjourned until March 31 for hearing of the matter
VANGUARD
Metro
16-year-old Killed As NDLEA Operatives, Drug Barons Clash In Edo

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, and drug barons reportedly clashed at Okpuje, Uzeba community in Owan West Local Government Area, leading to the death of a 16 -years -old boy, identified as Emmanuel Monday George.
Two others identified as God’spower Omage (20 years) and Ajayi Irobia (54 years), were said to have sustained serious injuries during the gun duel which reportedly happened on Monday.
Mitchell Ofoyeju, state commander of the NDLEA disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin on Thursday.
READ ALSO:NDLEA Unveils Digital Platform For Drug Integrity Test, Visa Clearance Certificate
Ofoyeju said that one of its officers sustained an injury after being struck on the hand with a sharp object.
Recall that Army and NDLEA officers were recently attacked by drug barons in the agrarian community, notable for cannabis cultivation.
Metro
JUST IN: Fire Guts Store At Abuja Mall

A fire incident occurred at the Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja in the early hours of Thursday.
The cause of the fire, which started around 3am, could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.
It was gathered that only the Adidas Sports shop was affected.
It was further gathered that firefighters from the Federal Fire Service, the Berger Fire Department, and the FCT Fire Service, as well as police officers, were deployed to the scene.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Jailed In US Over $6m Inheritance Fraud
A resident of Jabi, Saliu, who informed our correspondent of the incident, said the fire had been contained.
He said, “Around 3am., this morning, there was a fire incident at the Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja. No loss of life or injury was recorded. Only the Adidas Sports shop was affected by the fire.”
The FCT police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident to The PUNCH.
Adeh said police officers were deployed to the location to secure the area and prevent looting.
“We received a distress call at about 3:40 a.m. We immediately deployed our men there to secure the place and prevent any breach of public order,” she said.
Metro
JUST IN: Hausa, Benin Youths Clash Over Killing Of Suspected Yahoo Boy

Several persons were on Wednesday night injured in a clash between Hausa and Benin youths, in Ogheghe community, Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, over the killing of a suspected yahoo boy identified as Chizi Benz.
According to sources, Chizi Benz was said to have been stabbed to death by a Hausa youth over a sour deal.
Though details of the deal were not available as at press time, the killing of Chidi Benz sparked outrage as youths stormed the streets with dangerous weapons in a revenge mission.
According to sources, many ‘Abokis’ were injured in a reprisal attack while others fled for safety.
READ ALSO:Deputy Gov Pledges Support For Edo Queens
News of the killing was to have spread to nearby communities of Uwelu along the Siluko Axis, forcing Hausa youths who do petty trading and rides okada closed their businesses and fled for safety.
According to sources, policemen who were deployed to the area fired tear gas to disperse the angry youths.
Edo Police Spokesman, Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident, promised to send a detailed statement.
He was yet to do so as at press time.
   News3 days ago News3 days ago- Six Countries With Highest Number Of Billionaires In 2025 
   News2 days ago News2 days ago- Edo Gives Ex-deputy Gov One Week To Return State Assets 
   News2 days ago News2 days ago- Anambra, Lagos, Others Top 2025 Fiscal Performance Rankings, As C’Rivers Dropped from 5th to 30th 
   News4 days ago News4 days ago- Ex-soldiers Fume Over Lifetime Benefits For Sacked Service Chiefs 
   News1 day ago News1 day ago- JUST IN: Tinubu Bows To Pressure, Reviews Pardon For Kidnapping, Drug-related Offences 
   News1 day ago News1 day ago- JUST IN: Tinubu Reverses Maryam Sanda’s Pardon, Convict To Spend Six Years In Jail 
   Metro4 days ago Metro4 days ago- Soldiers Kill 80 Bandits In Kebbi Border Clash 
   Headline4 days ago Headline4 days ago- US: Trump Raises Tariffs On Canada 10% After ‘Negative Ad’ 
   News1 day ago News1 day ago- JUST IN: Senate Clears Oluyede As Chief Of Defence Staff 
   News4 days ago News4 days ago- Resident Doctors Declare Nationwide Strike 


 
									
 
									
 
									
 
										
 
										
 
										
 
										
 
										
 
										
 
										
 
										
 
										
 
										