The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary forfeiture of N1.1 billion allegedly linked to the Kano State Government.
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 judge held that the application was meritorious and directed that the funds be placed under interim forfeiture pending further proceedings.
The court also ordered that the forfeiture notice be published in a national newspaper to enable any interested party to appear and show cause why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The matter was adjourned to January 21, 2026, for a report on compliance with the publication directive.
The sum, put at N1.109 billion, was said to have been recovered in the course of investigations into a petition alleging illegal withdrawals from the Kano State Federation Account domiciled with United Bank for Africa (UBA).
In documents before the court, the ICPC stated that the funds were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
An affidavit sworn to by one David Nelson disclosed that a petition from concerned residents of Kano alleged that about N2.3 billion was withdrawn in cash and diverted for purposes unrelated to government business.
Investigators reportedly traced the authorisation of the withdrawals to the
Kano State Accountant-General, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, with the funds allegedly transferred to two bureau de change operators.
The commission further told the court that the transactions were presented as payments for diesel supplies, purportedly backed by letters of authority from A.Y. Maikifi Oil & Gas Ltd and Ammas Petroleum Company Ltd.
However, the managing directors of both firms were said to have informed investigators that no such contracts were awarded and no diesel was supplied.
The ICPC said the N1.1 billion was recovered in tranches and urged the court to preserve the funds in the interest of justice, pending the determination of the substantive forfeiture suit.