A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of over N1.1 billion allegedly illegally withdrawn from the Kano State Federation Account domiciled with United Bank for Africa (UBA).
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order on Tuesday after granting an ex parte application filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The motion was argued by ICPC counsel, Oluwafunke Bada.
The judge held that the application was meritorious and consequently ordered that the sum be forfeited temporarily to the Federal Government. He further directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in a national daily to enable any interested party to appear before the court and show cause why the funds should not be permanently forfeited.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until January 21, 2026, for a report of compliance.
Court documents showed that the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2634/2025, was filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria against the sum of N1,109,230,000 domiciled in an ICPC recovery account. The suit was dated December 3 and filed on December 8, 2025, by Z.S. Nass, an Assistant Director at the ICPC.
The anti-graft agency stated that the funds were recovered in the course of investigating a petition alleging financial impropriety involving the Kano State Federation Account and were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
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In an affidavit deposed to by an ICPC Anti-Corruption Assistant, David Nelson, the commission said it received a petition dated August 19, 2024, from concerned citizens of Kano State. The petition alleged that N2.3 billion was withdrawn in cash from the state’s federation account and allegedly used for purposes unrelated to government business.
According to the affidavit, investigations revealed that on November 9, 2023, the Accountant-General of Kano State, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, authorised the payment of over N1.1 billion to two Bureau de Change companies, Namu Na Kune Global Resources Ltd and Kazo Nazo Global Concept.
The ICPC further alleged that letters of authority submitted to the Kano State Government, purportedly for the supply of diesel, were signed by the managing directors of A.Y. Maikifi Oil & Gas Ltd and Ammas Petroleum Company Ltd. However, both managing directors reportedly told investigators that the contracts referenced in the letters did not exist and that no supplies were made to the state government.
The commission alleged that the funds paid to the two companies were converted to foreign currency and later handed over to officials linked to the Kano State Government.
It added that a total sum of N1,109,230,000 was recovered from the companies in two instalments between February and March 2025.
The ICPC urged the court to preserve the recovered funds pending the conclusion of investigations and final determination of the case, a request the court granted through the interim forfeiture order.
(NAN)