A federal high court in Abuja has ordered that US $49,700, recovered from Dr. Nura Ali, former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Sokoto during 2023 general election, be permanently forfeited to federal government.
Gatekeepers News reports that Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order following a motion filed by Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
In court, ICPC counsel Osuobeni Akponimisingha told the judge that the agency had complied with a prior interim forfeiture order and had published a public notice inviting parties with interest to show cause why the funds should not become government property and no one responded.
Justice Nwite ruled the application meritorious after reviewing the affidavit evidence and granted the forfeiture.
Background documents show the funds were seized in a search of Ali’s residence in Kano by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and ICPC, pursuant to a warrant in December 2024. At that time, a motion ex parte (FHC/ABJ/CS/1846/2024) resulted in a temporary forfeiture order dated 30 December 2024.
The affidavit in support of the motion stated the US $49,700 was suspected to be bribe money received by Ali, noting that INEC does not pay its staff in US dollars.
It further claimed Ali had acknowledged receipt of US $150,000 from former Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Senator Aliyu Wamakko but had not declared the funds to law enforcement.
With no claimant coming forward after the public notice, the court concluded that the conditions for permanent forfeiture had been satisfied and ordered the funds handed over to the federal government.
