Abuja Court Approves Temporary Seizure of ₦30.7m in Alleged NNPC-Related Fraud Case
Story: written by Daniel January 6,2026
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has authorised the interim forfeiture of ₦30.7 million believed to be linked to an alleged fraud involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order on Monday after considering an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court directed that the funds be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government and ordered the ruling to be published in a national daily.
The judge ruled that any individual or entity claiming ownership of the money has 14 days to approach the court and explain why the funds should not be permanently confiscated. The matter was adjourned to January 22 for a compliance update.
The EFCC’s application, filed on December 23, 2025 and moved on January 2, 2026, was brought under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. Prosecutors told the court that the proceeding was a non-conviction-based forfeiture action and that the ₦30.7 million was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
EFCC counsel, Emenike Mgbemele, disclosed that the money was paid into the commission’s recovery account with United Bank for Africa through four managers’ cheques—three valued at ₦10 million each and another of ₦700,000—issued under the name “M/C Draft Outstanding Account”.
In an affidavit, EFCC investigator Bilkisu Abubakar said the investigation was triggered by petitions alleging fraudulent dealings involving senior NNPCL officials. She explained that the commission carried out intelligence gathering, bank inquiries, forensic analysis of financial records and correspondence with relevant agencies, including the Corporate Affairs Commission.
According to Abubakar, the investigation identified a bureau de change operator, Adamu Yakubu, as a central figure in the transactions. She said Yakubu provided a transaction ledger and customer details after making a voluntary statement to the EFCC on September 2, 2025.
Further analysis of the ledger allegedly revealed that over ₦4 billion was transferred to various individuals and corporate entities on the instructions of Ibrahim Sani, identified as a staff member of the Federal Inland Revenue Service. Sani reportedly admitted to using Yakubu to move funds and regularly depositing large amounts of foreign currency, which were converted to naira and paid into accounts he supplied. Investigators said he failed to establish the lawful source of the funds.
The affidavit stated that the ₦30.7 million remained in Yakubu’s possession and formed part of the funds allegedly provided by Sani. Both men reportedly denied ownership of the money.
Abubakar added that Yakubu later issued four managers’ cheques in favour of the EFCC recovery account, copies of which were attached to the application before the court.
