Court orders final forfeiture of ₦150m linked to Delta Lawmaker

A Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has ordered the final forfeiture of N150 million traced to Nicholas Mutu, a serving member of the House of Representatives, to the Federal Government.

The court ruled on the application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presided over by Justice J.O. Abdulmalik.

As per the court, there is the need for a final forfeiture of the money in the absence of any credible reason why the funds cannot be forfeited.

This was done through an order which was made following the grant of an interim order in the process.

Justice Abdulmalik also ruled that the order must be published in a national daily to give a chance for anyone who wishes to challenge the application.

But no sufficient grounds were given before the court for stopping the forfeiture after the period of publication.

According to EFCC, the investigation conducted by the EFCC revealed that the monies were proceeds of corrupt activities carried out through Mutu while he was the chairman of the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission.

The commission emphasized that the legislator had been collecting kickbacks amounting to over N400 million from a consultant of the NDDC.

EFCC further said that some of the money recovered during the process of investigation was the same N150 million ordered to be forfeited.

Upon considering arguments from the parties, Judge Abdulmalik upheld the case of the EFCC and ordered for forfeiture.