Court orders forfeiture of N2.7bn illegal mining proceeds

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of N2, 739,836,331.31, being proceeds of illegal mining of solid minerals at Endo community in Nasarawa State.

The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, gave the order on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.

This followed an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), dated September 27, 2024.

The EFCC asked for the final forfeiture of the N2.7 billion to the federal government, pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006, having suspected it to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

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The court had, on July 8, 2024, granted an interim forfeiture order on the sum to the federal government which was published in a national newspaper on August 8 as required by the law to enable anyone with a legitimate claim of ownership of the money to show forth.

During proceedings on Wednesday, Ibrahim Idris (SAN), counsel to the first and second defendants, Lideal Mines Limited and Etong Agrotech Nigeria Limited, respectively, informed the court of his withdrawal of the application on behalf of his clients, challenging the final forfeiture of the sum, which the prosecution welcomed with no objection.

According to the EFCC, the forfeited funds are in four bank accounts, all belonging to the two defendants.

Justice Nwite, therefore, adjourned the matter till October 23, 2024, for hearing of application for the final forfeiture of other sums linked to the three defendants.

The Star