Court Orders Forfeiture of $49,700 from Former Electoral Commissioner.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu | Democracy Newsline Newspaper | October 29, 2025
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the forfeiture of $49,700 recovered from Dr. Nura Ali, the former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Sokoto State under the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to the account of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the ruling on Wednesday after hearing a suit filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) seeking the permanent forfeiture of the funds recovered from the former official.
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According to the ICPC, the money was discovered during an investigation into activities related to the 2023 general elections, with suspicions that the funds originated from unlawful sources. The Commission stated that although Dr. Nura Ali and other persons involved were duly notified, no one came forward to contest or disprove the evidence presented before the court.
Justice Nwite held that the court was satisfied with the documentary evidence tendered by the ICPC and found that the Commission had met all the legal requirements for permanent forfeiture. Consequently, he ordered that the sum of $49,700 be immediately transferred to the Federal Government’s treasury.
Meanwhile, an ICPC source described the judgment as a significant step toward ensuring that public officials do not benefit from illicit funds. The source added that the Commission will continue to monitor both former and serving officials to uphold public integrity and strengthen accountability within government service.
