A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 13 million dollars linked to Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Ltd, a company associated with businesswoman Aisha Achimugu. Justice Emeka Nwite granted the request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for the money to be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that neither Oceangate Engineering nor Achimugu was able to prove that the 13 million dollars was legitimately earned. He said there was no credible evidence before the court to support their claim that the funds came from gifts and earnings from oil and gas contracts.
The judge rejected arguments by Oceangate’s lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, who had insisted that the money was lawfully acquired. Ozurumba had argued that the funds were derived from personal gifts to Achimugu and proceeds of genuine business transactions, but the court found these claims unsubstantiated.
Justice Nwite also dismissed the defence counsel’s contention that the court lacked jurisdiction to issue an interim forfeiture order while sitting as a vacation court on August 22, 2025. He agreed with EFCC lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo that the commission complied with relevant laws, including Order 46(5) of the Federal High Court Rules and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act 2006, in seeking the order.
He further described as baseless the claim that the EFCC acted as a meddlesome interloper because no individual or company had petitioned the commission about missing funds. The judge held that under Nigerian law, the EFCC is empowered to act on intelligence and investigate suspicious assets even without a specific complaint from a victim.
About the author
Real Madrid in negotiations to buy Leipzig’s Diomande, source reveals
Real Madrid have opened talks with RB Leipzig over a move for Ivorian winger Yan Diomande, according to a source at the German club. The source told AFP that negotiations between both clubs are ongoing, with Real Madrid pushing to complete one of the summer’s biggest transfers. ESPN reported that Madrid expect to finish a deal in the coming hours, while other reports say Leipzig had earlier rejected an opening bid before fresh talks resumed. Diomande, 19, is understood to have given the green light to a move to the Spanish giants, and Madrid are said to have raised their offer to around €120 million including bonuses. Leipzig, however, is reportedly holding out for a fee closer to €130 million, and the German club has also considered keeping him for another season on loan.sports.yahoo+2 The Ivorian winger has attracted interest […]
US singer D4vd to stand trial in killing of teenage girl
American singer D4vd will stand trial on charges of killing and dismembering a 14-year-old girl, after a judge ruled there was enough evidence to proceed. The singer, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is accused of murdering Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was discovered in the trunk of a Tesla registered in his name. Prosecutors say the teen threatened to expose their illegal sexual relationship, prompting the deadly attack.abc+3 At Monday’s hearing in Los Angeles, Judge Charlaine Olmedo ruled that prosecutors had presented sufficient incriminating evidence to send the case to trial. The ruling followed a five-day preliminary hearing in which investigators presented text messages, purchase records and other evidence they say links Burke to the crime. According to prosecutors, Hernandez was 13 when the relationship began and 14 when she was killed. They also allege that Burke purchased […]
Dangote’s heirs back plan to donate one-third of wealth to charity
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, plans to leave roughly one-third of his wealth to charitable causes, with his family publicly backing the arrangement, his daughter Halima Dangote has said. Halima Dangote, a trustee of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, said the plan was important to her father and had already been discussed with the family. She disclosed that Dangote asked his three daughters and his mother to sign the will so that 33% of his wealth could be committed to “humanity Reports estimate the amount involved at more than $11 billion to $12 billion, based on Dangote’s current net worth of about $35 billion to $36.5 billion. The plan is said to align with Islamic inheritance principles and reflect Dangote’s long-standing belief that giving back is part of business success.africa. The donation would further strengthen the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which already […]
Xenophobia: Minister meets S’African envoy after Tinubu snub
Tinubu had been expected to hold talks with the special envoy sent by President Cyril Ramaphosa, but Presidency sources said he directed the team to meet Enikanolaiye instead, in what has been widely interpreted as a diplomatic snub. The President’s stance follows fresh outbreaks of violence in South Africa, where Nigerians and other African nationals have been targeted in what Abuja describes as “Afrophobic attacks”.naijanews+4 During Monday’s meeting in Abuja, Enikanolaiye delivered a strong message on behalf of the Nigerian government, demanding urgent and concrete action from Pretoria to stop recurring assaults on its citizens. He told Lamola that official records show at least 98 Nigerians have been killed in mob and hate-related incidents in South Africa since 2022, and accused local authorities of failing to adequately prosecute perpetrators or dismantle networks behind the violence.nairametrics+1 The minister also raised concerns […]
How PFIPC was created — Accountant‑General
Appearing before the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee probing the PFIPC scandal, Ogunjimi said his office first came in contact with the council in November 2024, when it received a correspondence that appeared to originate from the State House. The letter, dated November 7, 2024 and bearing a State House reference, requested the creation of an administrative code for the PFIPC to enable budgeting, accounting and financial reporting. He explained that, following standard government procedures, the Office of the Accountant‑General processed the request and approved the creation of the administrative code, believing the document to be genuine because it was written on State House letterhead. The approval was then communicated back to the State House and copied to the Office of the Auditor‑General and the Budget Office of the Federation. Ogunjimi told lawmakers that subsequent investigations later showed the […]
Police arrest woman for cutting off boyfriend’s manhood in Kano
Police said the incident happened at Durbar Hotel in Badawa, where Idris allegedly attacked her boyfriend with a sharp knife after reportedly discovering his plans to marry another woman. The suspect, who hails from Maigatari Local Government Area of Jigawa State, was said to have lured the victim to the hotel before the attack. Spokesperson for the Kano State Police Command, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Monday. He said the Divisional Police Officer for Badawa led a team of detectives to the scene, where the suspect was arrested and the knife used in the attack was recovered as an exhibit. The victim was rushed to Abubakar Imam Urology Hospital, where he is currently receiving medical treatment for his injuries. Kiyawa added that detectives have begun a full investigation into the incident, and the […]
Related
Residents count losses as torrential rain floods Lagos communities
Residents in several Lagos communities are counting their losses after torrential rainfall flooded homes, roads, and businesses across the state. The heavy downpour turned major streets into temporary waterways, leaving commuters stranded and traffic brought to a standstill in many parts of the city. In some areas, floodwater entered houses and shops, damaging household items and goods worth millions of naira. The flooding affected communities including Oshodi, Mushin, Surulere, Egbeda, Gbagada, Ilupeju, and other low-lying parts of Lagos. Residents said the water rose quickly after the rain began and made movement almost impossible. Many business owners were forced to close early as customers and workers could not access affected areas. Motorists also struggled to move through submerged roads, with several vehicles stalled or damaged by floodwater. Some residents blamed blocked drainage channels and poor waste disposal for worsening the situation. […]
NANS seeks probe of alleged crisis at Osun Poly
The National Association of Nigerian Students has called for an independent investigation into the alleged administrative crisis at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree. The student body said the situation at the institution is affecting academic performance and student welfare. NANS claimed there have been concerns over poor governance, weak academic delivery, financial mismanagement, and administrative inefficiency at the polytechnic. It also alleged that students have faced repeated disruptions, poor examination arrangements, and other challenges that have affected learning. The association gave relevant authorities a seven day ultimatum to begin a full probe into the matter. It urged agencies such as the National Board for Technical Education, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, the Department of State Services, and TETFund to look into the allegations. NANS warned that if no action is taken, it may begin peaceful protests to press home its demands.
UK officers investigated over dying teen’s arrest
Two police officers in the UK are under investigation for possible gross misconduct following the death of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, who was handcuffed and arrested while suffering from fatal stab wounds. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced the investigation after reviewing the officers' actions at the scene. Henry Nowak was stabbed to death in December 2025 by Vickrum Digwa, who used a large blade he claimed to carry because of his Sikh faith. After the attack, Digwa falsely told police that he had been the victim of a racist assault. He was convicted of murder and sentenced in June 2026 to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years. According to the IOPC, the investigation will examine whether the first two officers who arrived at the scene failed to recognize that Nowak required urgent medical treatment. Investigators […]
Ghana pushes for concrete slavery reparations after UN slavery vote
Ghana is ramping up its push for concrete slavery reparations after successfully spearheading a landmark United Nations resolution recognising the transatlantic slave trade as one of history’s gravest crimes against humanity. In March 2026, Ghana led 123 UN member states to adopt a resolution that declared the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity and described calls for reparations as a “concrete step towards remedy” for historical wrongs. The resolution urges formal apologies from states and institutions that profited from slavery, as well as discussions on reparations that could include direct financial compensation, development support and the return of looted African cultural property. Building on the UN vote, Ghana will host a major global conference on reparatory justice in Accra from June 17 to 19, aimed at “charting the next phase of the global reparations agenda” and turning broad […]
Le Togo teste sa réponse aux catastrophes majeures
Le Togo intensifie ses efforts en matière de gestion des catastrophes et de protection civile face à la montée des risques climatiques, sanitaires et technologiques. Dans cette dynamique, le gouvernement a lancé à Afagnan, dans la préfecture du Bas-Mono, l'exercice national de simulation multirisque baptisé « Mia Dzrado 2026 », sous la coordination de l'Agence nationale de la protection civile (ANPC). Prévu du 8 au 18 juin 2026, cet exercice grandeur nature a pour objectif d'évaluer les capacités opérationnelles du dispositif national de gestion des urgences et de renforcer la coordination entre les différentes structures impliquées dans la réponse aux catastrophes. Plusieurs scénarios de crise sont simulés au cours de l'opération. Il s'agit notamment d'inondations, de mouvements de populations, d'épidémies de choléra, d'accidents de la circulation, de chavirements d'embarcations, d'incendies, de déversements de produits chimiques ainsi que d'incidents liés à […]
Lomé accueille un atelier sur la libre circulation
Lomé accueille depuis le jeudi 28 mai 2026 un atelier technique consacré aux acteurs intervenant aux frontières de l’espace communautaire ouest-africain. La rencontre réunit notamment des transporteurs, des transitaires, des commerçantes transfrontalières ainsi que des agents des postes frontaliers. L’objectif principal est de renforcer les connaissances des participants sur le protocole de la CEDEAO relatif à la libre circulation des personnes et des biens, tout en promouvant des pratiques commerciales plus transparentes et équitables aux frontières. L’initiative est portée conjointement par le Groupe de réflexion et d’action Femme, Démocratie et Développement (GF2D-CRIFF), la Commission de la CEDEAO et l’Organisation internationale pour les migrations (OIM). Les organisateurs souhaitent apporter des réponses concrètes aux nombreuses difficultés rencontrées quotidiennement aux frontières de la sous-région. Selon Ginette Bayi Adekambi, directrice exécutive du GF2D-CRIFF, plusieurs obstacles persistent malgré les textes communautaires existants. Elle évoque notamment […]