A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary forfeiture of $49,700 allegedly recovered from Dr. Nura Ali, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Sokoto State, during the 2023 general elections.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the ruling on Monday after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) filed an ex-parte motion, jointly submitted with the Department of State Services (DSS).
The motion, filed on December 24, 2024, sought a temporary forfeiture of the sum, which the ICPC described as proceeds of unlawful activities. It also requested permission to deposit the money in an escrow account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and publish a notice inviting interested parties to claim the funds within 90 days.
The ICPC alleged that the recovered money was a bribe received by Dr. Ali during his tenure as REC in Sokoto State.
“The alleged moveable property of $49,700 was bribe money received by Dr. Nura Ali while serving as INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Sokoto State. The alleged property is not legitimate earnings and is suspected to be proceeds of crime,” the ICPC stated in its application.
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The agency further argued that INEC does not pay its officials in U.S. dollars. “This application seeks to preserve the property from dissipation while allowing any interested party, including Dr. Ali, to provide a legitimate explanation for its acquisition.”
The DSS reportedly conducted a search at Dr. Ali’s residence in Kano, where the sum of $49,700 was recovered. According to ICPC counsel Osuobeni Akponimisingha, Dr. Ali claimed during interrogation that the money was part of $150,000 gifted to him by former Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Senator Aliyu Wamakko.
Akponimisingha disclosed, “Dr. Ali admitted in his extra-judicial statement to receiving the money as a gift. However, he failed to report the gift to any law enforcement agency, as required by law.”
The DSS also attached letters written by Dr. Ali to the agency, seeking the return of the money. These letters were presented in court as exhibits.
Justice Nwite, after reviewing the motion and the attached exhibits, ruled in favor of the temporary forfeiture, stating the application was “meritorious.” He directed the ICPC and DSS to conclude their investigations within 90 days and publish a notice in a national newspaper for any claimants to come forward.
The judge also set a compliance report deadline for January 30, with a hearing on the matter scheduled for March 31.
This ruling marks a significant step in ongoing efforts to investigate alleged corruption in the 2023 elections and enforce accountability within public institutions.