Author: Staff Editor
Justice Alexandra Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, ordered the final forfeiture of 52 terrace and maisonette units located in the Lekki area of Lagos. The properties, situated at Mercyville Estate, Covenant Way, off New Road, Ilasan, Lagos, were recovered from Fielddreams Limited, Ifeanyi Nweke, and Amex Savings and Loans Limited. The judge made the order following a Motion on Notice filed and argued by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel, Franklin Ofoma. The Commission had, on August 14, 2024, secured…
Prominent legal luminary, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, has challenged the newly elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, to make organizational unity her immediate priority as she takes the helm of Africa’s largest legal body. Mrs. Badejo-Okusanya, affectionately called “Mrs. B” by colleagues, made history by becoming the first female president directly elected by the association’s membership. In a congratulatory statement, Pinheiro praised the President-elect’s proven excellence, inclusiveness, and boldness. However, he coupled his commendation with a candid assessment of the challenges ahead, warning that the prestigious association is currently divided. “The Bar is currently polarized…
Justice M. Zubairu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Jikwoyi, Abuja, on Thursday, July 16, 2026, convicted Haruna Mamuda and Sadiq Umar for posing as officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to defraud members of the public. The duo was convicted on a five-count charge bordering on impersonation, criminal conspiracy, and unlawful representation. Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Haruna Mamuda, Sadiq Umar (a.k.a. Abubakar Hashimu Umar), and Salifu Olije Mustapha (now standing trial before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Court 21, Kubwa), sometime in March 2026, within the jurisdiction of…
The Supreme Court on Friday restored the final forfeiture of several high-value properties and $2.045 million linked to former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, setting aside the decision of the Court of Appeal, which had ordered a fresh hearing of the case. In a unanimous judgment delivered on behalf of a panel led by Justice Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa, Justice Mohammed Idris upheld the 2024 judgment of Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which ordered the final forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government. The apex court held that the Court…
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, has granted a final forfeiture order over properties linked to businesswoman, Ms Aisha Achimugu, in favour of the Federal Government. The properties include jewellery worth ₦4,645,170,294.90 (Four Billion, Six Hundred and Forty-Five Million, One Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Two Hundred and Ninety-Four Naira, Ninety Kobo), 11 exotic cars worth ₦4,293,000,000 (Four Billion, Two Hundred and Ninety-Three Million Naira), $50,000 (Fifty Thousand United States Dollars), and ₦30,000,000 (Thirty Million Naira) in cash. Justice Jude Onwugbuzie granted the order on Thursday, July 16, 2026, while delivering judgment on an application filed…
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, July 16, 2026, adjourned the trial of former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, until September 25, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses. At the commencement of proceedings, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the adoption of final written addresses. He, however, noted that he had received a letter from Suswam’s counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, informing him of his inability, as well as that of Suswam, the first defendant, to attend court on health grounds. The prosecution counsel further informed…
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, has ordered the final forfeiture of assets linked to businesswoman Ms Aisha Achimugu to the Federal Government. The assets include jewellery valued at ₦4,645,170,294.90 (Four Billion, Six Hundred and Forty-Five Million, One Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Two Hundred and Ninety-Four Naira, Ninety Kobo), 11 exotic cars worth ₦4,293,000,000 (Four Billion, Two Hundred and Ninety-Three Million Naira), $50,000 (Fifty Thousand United States Dollars), and ₦30,000,000 (Thirty Million Naira) in cash. Justice Jude Onwugbuzie granted the order on Thursday, July 16, 2026, while delivering judgment on an application filed by the…
The trial of social media influencer and relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, was adjourned on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, due to her absence from court. Blessing CEO is facing a two-count charge filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bordering on alleged obtaining by false pretence and the alleged theft of ₦36 million. When the matter was called, counsel to the defendant, P.I. Nwafuru, informed the court that officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service had notified…
The Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has instituted a ₦15 billion defamation suit against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, over allegations that he demanded a 48 per cent kickback from a ₦27.3 billion take-off grant approved for a federal agency. In the suit, Gbajabiamila is seeking ₦10 billion as general damages, ₦5 billion as aggravated damages, ₦200 million as the cost of the action, and an order compelling Matthew to publish a full retraction and apology in five national newspapers. He is also asking the…
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of more than 40 properties linked to former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN. The judge granted the application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after holding that the respondents failed to rebut the reasonable suspicion that the properties were acquired through unlawful activities. Before delivering the substantive judgment on Wednesday, Justice Abdulmalik dismissed several applications, motions on notice, and applications to show cause filed by the former AGF, his family members, and some companies…