The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has granted an interim forfeiture order for the sums of $20,000, CFA 110,000, and a sky blue Nissan Almera vehicle suspected to be linked to fraudulent activity.
Justice Dehinde Dipeolu gave this order following a motion ex-parte filed by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kofarnaisa, on behalf of the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1.
In support of the application, EFCC operative, Solomon Usman, deposed to an eight-paragraph affidavit detailing the circumstances leading to the seizure.
Usman said on July 13, 2025, operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) during their operation near the Seme Border in Badagry, Lagos state, intercepted a sky blue Nissan Almera with chassis number SJNFAANI6U0508962.
Upon noticing the presence of the operatives, the driver reportedly abandoned the vehicle and fled into nearby bushes, evading arrest.
A subsequent search of the abandoned car led to the discovery of $20,000 (Twenty Thousand US Dollars) and CFA 110,000 (One Hundred and Ten Thousand CFA Francs).
Kofarnaisa argued that the money and vehicle were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity and urged the court to order their interim forfeiture.
Justice Dipeolu granted the request and ordered the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper. This is to enable any interested party to appear in court and show cause why the items should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.