Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that sought to forfeit properties allegedly linked to former Minister of Power Engr. Saleh Mamman.
The EFCC had argued that the properties in question were acquired through corrupt means and therefore should be seized under the country’s anti‑corruption laws. The commission’s motion was presented to the court in a bid to prevent the former minister from retaining assets that it claimed were the proceeds of illicit activity.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho struck out the EFCC’s forfeiture bid, effectively halting the commission’s attempt to seize the properties. The decision was issued in the Federal High Court, which handles a range of civil and criminal cases across Nigeria.
Engr. Saleh Mamman, who served as Minister of Power, has faced scrutiny from the EFCC in connection with alleged corruption during his tenure. The court’s dismissal of the forfeiture motion means that the commission must pursue alternative legal avenues if it wishes to challenge the ownership of the assets.
The EFCC, Nigeria’s primary anti‑corruption agency, routinely files forfeiture motions against individuals it believes have benefited from illicit conduct. The court’s ruling underscores the judiciary’s role in reviewing the merits of such claims before assets can be seized.
<small>Source: AllAfrica Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
