On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of N2.7 billion, proceeds from illegal mining activities in Endo Community, Nasarawa State, to the federal government.
The ruling came after an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, seeking the forfeiture under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act. The court had initially granted an interim forfeiture order on July 8, 2024, allowing any claimants of the funds to come forward, as announced in The Punch newspaper.
During the proceedings, the defense counsel, Ibrahim Idris, SAN, representing Lideal Mines Ltd and Etong Agrotech Nigeria Ltd, withdrew his challenge against the final forfeiture, a move welcomed by the prosecution.
The forfeited funds, held in four accounts across Zenith Bank, UBA, and Globus Bank, belonged to the two companies. Justice Nwite set October 23, 2024, for the hearing on the final forfeiture of additional sums linked to the defendants.
