The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of N1.1 billion allegedly linked to the Kano State Government over suspected unlawful financial dealings.
Justice Emeka Nwite made the order on Tuesday after granting an ex parte application filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
In his ruling, the judge described the ICPC’s application as “meritorious” and directed that the funds be temporarily forfeited pending further proceedings in the matter.
Justice Nwite also ordered that the forfeiture be published in a national newspaper, inviting any interested individual or organisation to appear before the court and show cause why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
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The case was adjourned to January 21, 2026, for a report on compliance with the publication order.
According to court documents as reported by Daily Post, the sum — put at N1.109 billion — was recovered during ICPC investigations into a petition alleging illegal withdrawals from the Kano State Federation Account domiciled with United Bank for Africa (UBA).
The ICPC told the court that the funds were “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
An affidavit sworn to by David Nelson revealed that a petition submitted by concerned Kano residents alleged that about N2.3 billion was withdrawn in cash and diverted for non-government purposes.
Investigators reportedly traced the authorisation of the controversial payments to the Kano State Accountant-General, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, with funds allegedly transferred to two bureau de change companies.
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The anti-graft agency further alleged that the transactions were disguised as payments for diesel supplies, supposedly backed by letters of authority from A. Y. Maikifi Oil & Gas Ltd and Ammas Petroleum Company Ltd.
However, the ICPC said the managing directors of both companies denied any such contracts, insisting that no diesel supplies were made to the Kano State Government.
The commission disclosed that the N1.1bn was recovered in instalments and urged the court to preserve the funds in the interest of justice pending the determination of the substantive forfeiture suit.