The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the final forfeiture of $163,592 allegedly obtained through an international fraud scheme involving a United States-based law firm.
The forfeiture order was granted on Friday, November 6, 2026, by Justice M.S. Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, following an application by the commission.
EFCC prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, led the commission’s legal team in securing the order.
In granting the non-conviction-based forfeiture, the court held that Akpasi Michael Oziegbe, the alleged beneficiary of the funds, failed to establish ownership of the money.
Justice Liman also held that Oziegbe illegally procured the services of the law firm to obtain a settlement sum from a company he was not employed by.
The funds were traced to the domiciliary account of Micoz Bluelink Enterprise, operated by Oziegbe, and allegedly obtained from US-based Applied Industrial Technologies through the impersonation of a former employee, Edward Campbell.
According to EFCC investigations, Oziegbe impersonated Campbell, who had reportedly sustained an accident while on duty, to deceive the law firm of Steven J. Mandel & Co. into facilitating the release of settlement funds.
Information obtained from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) showed that the law firm received a request for legal representation on June 27, 2022, from an individual claiming to be Campbell.
The impersonator alleged that his former employer had failed to honour a settlement agreement relating to a workplace accident.
The law firm was subsequently informed that Applied Industrial Technologies had issued a cheque of $165,157 on behalf of Campbell.
The impersonator instructed the law firm to deduct its legal fees and transfer the balance to a bank account provided by him.
Acting on the instructions, the law firm transferred $163,592 to the designated account on July 20, 2022. The funds were subsequently credited to Micoz Bluelink Enterprise’s domiciliary account with United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.
However, on July 21, 2022, JP Morgan Chase Bank notified the law firm that the cheque was altered and fictitious.
The law firm subsequently contacted Applied Industrial Technologies, confirmed the fraudulent nature of the transaction and reported the incident to the United States Secret Service and the FBI.
The EFCC said UBA had flagged the transaction as suspicious and initiated a verification process through its correspondent bank, Citibank.
Following confirmation that the transaction was fraudulent and a refund request by JP Morgan Chase Bank on grounds of unjust enrichment, UBA placed a lien on the funds.
Oziegbe subsequently petitioned the EFCC over alleged misconduct by some UBA officials.
However, the commission’s investigation established that the funds originated from the fraudulent transaction involving the American law firm and were not legitimate proceeds of any supply transaction, as claimed by Oziegbe.
The EFCC also said he failed to provide supporting documents to substantiate his claim that the money represented payment for materials supplied to the United States.
The commission’s Extractive Industry Fraud Section commenced investigations in May 2024 following a petition by GAIA & Montgomery Legal on behalf of Oziegbe, alleging conspiracy, forgery and obtaining money under false pretences against some UBA officials.
During the investigation, the EFCC obtained information and supporting documents from the FBI detailing the fraudulent transaction and circumstances surrounding the transfer.
The commission secured an order freezing the account on September 9, 2024, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1297/2024, to prevent the funds from being dissipated pending the conclusion of investigations.
It subsequently obtained an interim forfeiture order on August 15, 2025, directing the forfeiture of the $163,592 and inviting interested parties to show cause why the money should not be finally forfeited to the law firm through the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The EFCC had earlier declared Oziegbe wanted in connection with the alleged fraud.
