Court Orders Final Forfeiture of Jeremiah Useni’s UK Property to FG

Former FCT Minister, Jeremiah Useni

Court Orders Final Forfeiture of Jeremiah Useni’s UK Property to FG

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of a UK property linked to late former FCT Minister, Jeremiah Useni, to the Federal Government, in a ruling that reinforces Nigeria’s push to recover suspected illicit assets.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Binta Nyako granted the application filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), declaring that the property was reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities. The forfeited asset is located at No. 79, Randall Avenue, Neasden, London NW2 7SX, in the United Kingdom.

The court held that evidence presented by the CCB showed a clear mismatch between Useni’s legitimate earnings while in public office and the value of the London property. According to the agency, findings from its Financial Investigation and Forensic Accounting Unit (FIFAU) revealed that the late minister’s declared income could not justify the acquisition, indicating the likelihood of undeclared or illicit funds.

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Before the final ruling, the court had granted an interim forfeiture order on November 20, 2025. Following this, a public notice was published inviting anyone with interest in the property to contest the forfeiture. However, no individual or organisation filed any claim within the stipulated timeframe, paving the way for the final forfeiture order. The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2333/2025, listed the administrators and executors of Useni’s estate, alongside the property itself, as respondents.

In a related development, the United Kingdom’s First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), in case REF/2023/0155, had earlier ruled that Useni was the beneficial owner of the property. The tribunal found that the property was acquired under a fictitious identity, a move aimed at concealing ownership.

Ownership claims by individuals identified as “Ms Tali Shani” and senior lawyer Mike Ozekhome were dismissed by the tribunal. The court held that documents presented to support the claims were fraudulent and unreliable, further strengthening the case for forfeiture.

Counsel to the CCB, Sufyan Ahmad, anchored the application on provisions of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022 and the 1999 Constitution (as amended). In her ruling, Justice Nyako stated that the forfeiture aligns with Nigeria’s legal framework on asset recovery and serves the interest of justice, particularly in cases involving suspected proceeds of corruption.

The judgment underscores the Federal Government’s intensified efforts to trace, recover, and reclaim illicit assets held both locally and abroad. It also highlights increasing collaboration between Nigerian authorities and international legal systems in tackling financial crimes and corruption-linked assets.