Court Orders Interim Forfeiture Of Two Vehicles Recovered From Suspected Internet Fraudsters In Lagos

Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, May 4, 2026, ordered the interim forfeiture of two vehicles linked to suspected internet fraudsters, Christopher Chikudozie Ubammadu and James Femi Joshua.

The vehicles are two grey-coloured Lexus ES 350 cars with registration numbers SMK-774JN and EKY-753JZ.

The judge gave the order, following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, through its counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa.

Eereporter.com
Moving the application for interim forfeiture, Kofarnaisa told the court that it was supported by an affidavit deposed to by Nwike Fortune, an investigating officer with the EFCC.

In the affidavit, Nwike stated that the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Commission received intelligence regarding the activities of suspected internet fraudsters operating in the Apapa area of Lagos State.

He also stated that operatives of the Commission, on January 29, 2026, carried out a sting operation during which several suspects were apprehended and the vehicles were recovered from their residences.

Fortune further stated that since the vehicles were impounded and brought to the Commission’s office, no individual had come forward to claim ownership.

Further investigations, he said, revealed that both vehicles are owned by Ubammadu and Joshua. He added that the suspects allegedly used proceeds of fraudulent activities to acquire the vehicles.

Court

Kofarnaisa, therefore, submitted that the vehicles were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities. Justice Owoeye granted the application after considering the evidence presented.

The judge also directed the Commission to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper and ordered any interested party to appear before the court within 14 days to show cause why the vehicles should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria

EFCC Arraigns Man For Alleged N85.5m Land Fraud In Enugu

The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Udemba John Chibuzor before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu.

The defendant was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune N85, 500, 000. 00 (Eighty-five Million, Five hundred thousand Naira).

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Udemba John Chibuzor, sometime on the 6th day of December 2024 in Enugu, Enugu State of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit a felony to wit: with intent to defraud, obtained by false pretence the sum of N30, 000, 000. 00 (Thirty million Naira only) from Decent Purch Services & Repairs when you presented yourself as the owner of a property known as “Nitel Staff Quarters” situated at Zik Avenue, Uwani and sold same to them knowing fully well that the said property has been sold to one Mr. Ogbodo Augustine Chimezie, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act. No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

Eereporter.com
Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Udemba John Chibuzor, sometime on the 9th day of January 2025 in Enugu, Enugu State of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit a felony to wit: with intent to defraud, obtained by false pretence the sum of N55, 500, 000. 00 (Fifty-five million, Five hundred thousand Naira only) from Decent Purch Services & Repairs when you presented yourself as the owner of a property known as “Nitel Staff Quarters” situated at Zik Avenue, Uwani and sold same to them knowing fully well that the said property has been sold to one Mr. Ogbodo Augustine Chimezie, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act. No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. In view of his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Faruk Abdullah prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the Correctional facility.

The matter was thereafter adjourned to June 3, 2026 for trial, while the defendant was remanded at the Correctional facility.

EFCC

The defendant was arrested when he allegedly sold a property known as “Nitel Staff Quarters” situated in Zik Avenue in Uwani area of Enugu State to Decent Purch Services & Repairs.

He fraudulently presented himself as the owner of the said property. After collecting N85, 500, 000. 00 for the property from the petitioner, the defendant switched off his phone and became incommunicado.

The petitioner later discovered that the defendant allegedly used the same property to defraud other unsuspecting victims.

Enugu Assembly Member Harrison Ogara Dumps ADC For NDC

Mr Harrison Ogara, member representing Igboeze South Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly has announced his resignation from the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

His defection came just hours after Mr Peter Obi joined the National Democratic Party, NDC.

Ogara, who has officially written to his ward chairman in Unadu, Igboeze South, said that his resignation was with immediate effect and thanked the ward executives for their cooperation.

Eereporter.com
His letter reads: “I hereby write to officially inform you that henceforth I have resigned my membership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

“This action is sequel to the plethora of litigations and disharmony in the party which have made it almost impossible for any political progress to take place.

“I, therefore, wish to use this medium to thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve your party.

Enugu Assembly Member Harrison Ogara Dumps ADC For NDC

“Thanks for your understanding and cooperation in this regard.

The lawmaker remains the only opposition lawmaker in the 25-member assembly.

Ogara was elected on the platform of the Labour Party, LP, in 2023 alongside other 15 members but has refused to follow other members to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

A source close to the lawmaker disclosed that he is on the verge of following Obi to the new NDC.