The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the permanent forfeiture of 49,700 dollars allegedly recovered from Dr Nura Ali, former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for Sokoto State in the 2023 general elections.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after Osuobeni Akponimisingha, counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), moved a motion to that effect.
Akponimisingha, while moving the application, told the court that the ICPC had complied with the earlier interim order made by the court for temporary forfeiture of the money.
The lawyer said a publication was made for interested person(s) to show cause why the recovered funds should not be forfeited permanently to the Federal Government as directed by the court.
He, however, said that no interested person had shown up since the day of the publication, and neither was any interested person represented in court today.
“We, therefore, seek an order forfeiting the sum of $49,700 US dollars to the Federal Government in view of the processes filed in respect of this matter from interim forfeiture to this stage, my lord,” he said.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Nwite held that the application by the lawyer was meritorious.
“I have listened to the submission of the learner counsel to the applicant, and I have also gone through the affidavit evidence.
“I am of the view that the application is meritorious.
“Consequently, the application is granted,” the judge ruled.
“The alleged moveable property of $49,700.00 was bribe money received by Dr Nura Ali when he was the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Sokoto State.
“The alleged moveable property is not the legitimate earning of Dr Ali as the independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (INEC).
“The alleged moveable property is suspected to be the proceeds of crime,” it said.
The applicant argued that INEC does not pay its staff members with United States dollars as salaries or allowances.
It said the essence of the application was not to compulsorily acquire the alleged moveable property from the alleged owner, but to preserve the property from dissipation.
