Court orders interim forfeiture of assets linked to former REA directors
Court orders interim forfeiture of assets linked to former REA directors
A federal high court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of several properties linked to Suleiman Bulkwang and Abdullahi Sambo, both former directors of the finance and account departments at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). Obiora Egwuatu, the presiding judge, granted the order on Thursday following an ex parte application filed by Martha Babatunde, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Among the seven properties affected by the forfeiture order is a one-hectare plot of land in Ungwan Rere, Lafia LGA of Nasarawa state, linked to Sambo. Also listed are four units of two-bedroom flats in Kubwa, Abuja, reportedly linked to Bulkwang. The EFCC is investigating the REA over the alleged misappropriation of N1.4 billion. According to the commission, Sambo personally benefitted to the tune of N742 million, allegedly used to acquire some of the forfeited assets. In the motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/825/2025, the EFCC sought the interim forfeiture on the grounds that the properties are suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity. The commission also requested the court to direct that the interim order be published in a national newspaper, inviting any interested parties to show cause within 14 days why a final forfeiture order should not be granted in favour of the federal government. Supporting affidavits filed by the EFCC alleged that in March 2023, Sambo informed the REA staff members under his department that funds would be transferred to their accounts for a supposed “project supervision and monitoring” exercise. The staff were allegedly instructed to remit the money after receipt. The EFCC stated that seven REA staff members, in their statements, confirmed receiving directives from Sambo to process payments through the government integrated financial management information system (GIFMIS) platform. Between March and June 2023, the EFCC alleged that Sambo directed the disbursement of N1,481,389,518.11 to various bank accounts belonging to seven staff members in the finance department, including his own and that of his personal assistant, Usman Kwakwa. The payments, according to the commission, were made without the required approval of the managing director or the preparation and auditing of payment vouchers by the audit department. The commission further alleged that upon receiving the funds, Kwakwa was instructed by Sambo to redistribute the money to bureau de change operators, senior staff of the agency, the director himself, and other associates. “Mr. Sambo personally benefitted from the total sum of N742,486,700.00 from REA through his staff, most of which was used to acquire identified properties through his ally Danmama Mohammed,” EFCC alleged. The agency also informed the court that both Sambo and Bulkwang have expressed willingness to forfeit the properties in question. The EFCC described the case as a non-conviction-based asset forfeiture proceeding. According to NAN, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Commission (ICPC) is currently prosecuting some of the staff members involved in the alleged fraud, including Sambo, at different federal high courts. The EFCC had, in November 2024, arraigned Bulkwang before Joyce Abdulmalik, a judge, on a five-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering amounting to N223,412,909. President Bola Tinubu had, in March 2024, approved the indefinite suspension of Ahmad Ahmad as the managing director and chief executive officer (MD/CEO) of the REA, alongside three executive directors of the agency. Source:
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A federal high court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of several properties linked to Suleiman Bulkwang and Abdullahi Sambo, both former directors of the finance and account departments at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). Obiora Egwuatu, the presiding judge, granted the order on Thursday following an ex parte application filed by Martha Babatunde, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Among the seven properties affected by the forfeiture order is a one-hectare plot of land in Ungwan Rere, Lafia LGA of Nasarawa state, linked to Sambo. Also listed are four units of two-bedroom flats in Kubwa, Abuja, reportedly linked to Bulkwang. The EFCC is investigating the REA over the alleged misappropriation of N1.4 billion. According to the commission, Sambo personally benefitted to the tune of N742 million, allegedly used to acquire some of the forfeited assets. In the motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/825/2025, the EFCC sought the interim forfeiture on the grounds that the properties are suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity. The commission also requested the court to direct that the interim order be published in a national newspaper, inviting any interested parties to show cause within 14 days why a final forfeiture order should not be granted in favour of the federal government. Supporting affidavits filed by the EFCC alleged that in March 2023, Sambo informed the REA staff members under his department that funds would be transferred to their accounts for a supposed “project supervision and monitoring” exercise. The staff were allegedly instructed to remit the money after receipt. The EFCC stated that seven REA staff members, in their statements, confirmed receiving directives from Sambo to process payments through the government integrated financial management information system (GIFMIS) platform. Between March and June 2023, the EFCC alleged that Sambo directed the disbursement of N1,481,389,518.11 to various bank accounts belonging to seven staff members in the finance department, including his own and that of his personal assistant, Usman Kwakwa. The payments, according to the commission, were made without the required approval of the managing director or the preparation and auditing of payment vouchers by the audit department. The commission further alleged that upon receiving the funds, Kwakwa was instructed by Sambo to redistribute the money to bureau de change operators, senior staff of the agency, the director himself, and other associates. “Mr. Sambo personally benefitted from the total sum of N742,486,700.00 from REA through his staff, most of which was used to acquire identified properties through his ally Danmama Mohammed,” EFCC alleged. The agency also informed the court that both Sambo and Bulkwang have expressed willingness to forfeit the properties in question. The EFCC described the case as a non-conviction-based asset forfeiture proceeding. According to NAN, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Commission (ICPC) is currently prosecuting some of the staff members involved in the alleged fraud, including Sambo, at different federal high courts. The EFCC had, in November 2024, arraigned Bulkwang before Joyce Abdulmalik, a judge, on a five-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering amounting to N223,412,909. President Bola Tinubu had, in March 2024, approved the indefinite suspension of Ahmad Ahmad as the managing director and chief executive officer (MD/CEO) of the REA, alongside three executive directors of the agency. Source:
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