Court Orders Final Forfeiture of Property to Federal Government
Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, April 25, 2025, issued an order for the final forfeiture of a property located at 26, Tolu Road, Olodi Apapa, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The order followed a motion filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), with the agency represented by its lawyer, H.U. Kofarnaisa.
Previously, Justice Dipeolu had issued an interim forfeiture order for the property and mandated its publication in a national newspaper, giving any interested party 14 days to show cause as to why it should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
On Friday, when the matter came before the court for the final forfeiture application, Kofarnaisa informed the court that no objections or claims had been made within the 14-day period following the publication.
The application was also supported by an affidavit sworn by Gyal Maina Gapani, an EFCC operative, which stated that the property was “reasonably suspected to have been acquired with the proceeds of unlawful activities.”
After considering the arguments presented, Justice Dipeolu found merit in the EFCC’s application and granted the final forfeiture order. The property is now officially forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria, with the ownership transferred to Sterling Bank Plc.
This judgment marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to curb illicit financial activities and ensure the recovery of assets obtained through unlawful means.
