Court Orders Temporary Forfeiture of $49,700 Seized from Former INEC Commissioner
A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order for the temporary forfeiture of $49,700 allegedly recovered from Dr. Nura Ali, the former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Sokoto State with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Dr. Ali, who held the position until the 2023 general elections, was reportedly found in possession of the funds during a search conducted by the Department of State Services (DSS). Justice Emeka Nwite granted the forfeiture order on Monday after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) filed an ex-parte motion seeking to temporarily retain the money pending further investigation.
The court directed that the seized funds be placed in an escrow account at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by the ICPC and the DSS. Furthermore, the court ordered the publication of a notice in a national newspaper inviting any interested parties to come forward and explain why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the Nigerian government.
According to court documents, the money was discovered during a DSS search of Dr. Ali’s residence in Kano State. The ICPC claims that the $49,700 represents bribe money allegedly received by Dr. Ali during his tenure as INEC’s REC for Sokoto State. The agency argued that the funds were not legitimate earnings, as INEC does not pay its employees in foreign currency, and described the money as suspected proceeds of crime.
In his extra-judicial statement, Dr. Ali claimed that the $150,000 he possessed was a gift from two former Sokoto State governors, Aminu Tambuwal and Senator Aliyu Wamakko. The ICPC also revealed that Dr. Ali had written to the DSS requesting the return of the funds, asserting that they were gifts.
The ICPC’s legal representative submitted four key exhibits, including the search warrant, Dr. Ali’s extra-judicial statement, and his correspondence with the DSS. The commission emphasized that the forfeiture order was essential to prevent the potential dissipation of the funds.
The ICPC further argued that this application did not violate the constitutional rights guaranteed in Sections 43 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution, which safeguard citizens’ property rights. The agency clarified that the temporary forfeiture measure was in line with due process.
Justice Nwite ruled in favor of the ICPC’s application, stating that if Dr. Ali or any other party can provide a verifiable and lawful explanation for the acquisition of the funds, they would be entitled to reclaim possession. The court scheduled the case for a compliance report on January 30, 2025, with the substantive hearing set for March 31, 2025.
