Court orders final forfeiture of N178.9m, properties, vehicles to FG

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of N178,966,938 in cash, multiple properties and vehicles linked to suspected unlawful activities to the Federal Government.

Justice C.J. Aneke issued the order on Monday while ruling on a motion filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Suit No. FHC/L/MISC/1311/2025.

The court had earlier granted an interim forfeiture of the assets and directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper to allow any interested parties to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited.

At the hearing for the final forfeiture, EFCC counsel, Zeenat Atiku, told the court that the application was backed by an affidavit from an EFCC operative, Isah Yusuf Nadabo. The affidavit stated that the funds and assets were traced to one Stanley Akaria Chinemerem and were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

Among the assets forfeited is a fully detached six-bedroom duplex built on about 722.332 square metres at Nnabuenyi Street, within the Onigbanko Royal Family Land, Abule Oshun, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of two undeveloped parcels of land at Onireke Town, opposite Ojo Barracks in Amuwo Odofin, measuring 667.070 square metres and another plot measuring 60 feet by 120 feet.

Additionally, two vehicles—a black 2012 Toyota Highlander with registration number LND 401JC and a red 2018 Toyota Venza with plate number FCT 998 JX—were forfeited.

The EFCC had secured the interim forfeiture order on December 12, 2025, and published it in a national newspaper in January 2026 in compliance with the court’s directive. No individual or organisation came forward to contest the action.

After reviewing the application, Justice Aneke ruled that it had merit and ordered the final forfeiture of all the assets to the Federal Government.