The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary forfeiture of $49,700 allegedly seized from Dr. Nura Ali, the former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Sokoto State during the 2023 general elections.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the ruling on Monday following an ex-parte motion filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The motion was presented by ICPC attorney Osuobeni Akponimisingha.
Court documents indicate that the ex-parte motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1846/2024, was filed on December 24 and dated December 20. The Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) is named as the applicant, with Dr. Ali identified as the sole respondent.
The case has been jointly pursued by the ICPC and the Department of State Services (DSS). The application is signed by Mr. Usman Dauda, the DSS Director of Legal, while Akponimisingha, an Assistant Chief Legal Officer at the ICPC, assisted in drafting the filing.
Justice Nwite’s order permits the temporary seizure of the funds pending further investigations and legal proceedings. This decision is part of a broader effort to investigate alleged irregularities surrounding the 2023 general elections.
While the specifics of how the funds were recovered remain undisclosed, the collaboration between the ICPC and DSS underscores the government’s commitment to combatting corruption and fostering accountability in public service.
This temporary forfeiture paves the way for future legal proceedings, which will determine whether the funds will be permanently confiscated by the government or returned to Dr. Ali based on the results of the investigation.
