Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of a United Kingdom property linked to former FCT Minister, the late Jeremiah Useni, to the Federal Government.
The property, located in London, was ruled to have been reasonably suspected as proceeds of unlawful activity, following an application by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
The court held that due process was followed, noting that an earlier interim forfeiture order was publicly advertised to allow any interested parties to contest the claim. However, no valid claims were received.
Investigations revealed that the property was allegedly acquired under a fictitious identity to conceal ownership. A UK tribunal also confirmed that the late Useni was the true owner, dismissing competing claims linked to false identities.
The court further noted that financial analysis showed a mismatch between the former minister’s declared income and the value of the property, strengthening suspicions that it was acquired through illicit means.
The ruling marks a significant step in efforts to recover assets linked to alleged corruption and enforce accountability in public office.
