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Fraud rocks FIRS, court orders final forfeiture of Abuja, Kano houses linked to official

Published

1 year ago

April 4, 2025

Fraud rocks FIRS, court orders final forfeiture of Abuja, Kano houses linked to official

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that two properties linked to a Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) official, Aminu Garunbaba, be permanently forfeited to the Nigerian government over allegations of financial misconduct.

The properties include a four-bedroom terrace maisonette with a boys’ quarters at Barumark Groove Estate, Plot 667, Cadastral Zone, BO3, Wuye District, Abuja, which was acquired under the name MYZ Venture. The second property, located at No. 5, Lodge Road in Kano, was also allegedly purchased by Garunbaba.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a judgment, held that Garunbaba failed to show the instrument he used to purchase the property.

Justice Egwuatu held that the respondent also failed to show any reasonable cause that the funds used in purchasing the property is from his legitimate earnings.

“A person cannot be allowed to benefit from illegitimate acts,” he said.

The judge earlier dismissed the preliminary objection filed by Garunbaba on the grounds that the objector did not discharge the burden to proof that the particular paragraphs in the EFCC’s application offended the Evidence Act.

He agreed with counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Martha Babatunde, that a public officer can be investigated and prosecuted before an administrative disciplinary action is taken.

It will be recalled that the EFCC had, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/876/2021 filed by Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, sued Aminu Sidi Garunbaba as sole respondent.

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In the motion on notice dated March 16, 2022 but filed on March 21, 2022, the anti-graft agency prayed for final order of the court “forfeiting the properties described in Schedule 1 which were found by the commission on the respondent as properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”

Giving four grounds, the commission argued that the court had the statutory powers under the provision of Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 to grant the reliefs being sought.

It said: “The properties sought to be attached and forfeited are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

“The interim order of this honourable court has been published in two national dailies namely: THISDAY and PUNCH Newspapers.

“No cause or sufficient cause has been shown why the properties under the interim forfeiture should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

In the affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by an operative of the EFCC, Apagu Wudah, the officer said several investigations were carried out regarding the assets.

He said as an investigating officer with the Economic Governance Section of the agency, he was assigned to investigate an intelligence report bordering on criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering among some FIRS

Wudah said the investigation revealed that between 2017 and 2018, Garunbaba and some of the staff of the FIRS conspired amongst themselves and obtained millions of Naira from the FIRS under the guise of Duty Tour Allowances (DTA) which they never travelled for.

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He said in the execution of the fraud, the staff involved applied for DTA in respect of a non-existing trip.

According to him, upon being paid the DTA, the staff would deduct 10% to 15 per cent of the amount paid as his/her share, while the rest amount was withdrawn and transmitted to other senior officials of the agency who in turn also retained some while passing the rest up to the former Director of Finance and the Coordinating Director.

“The respondent (Garunbaba) not only directly applied and received DTA payment for none existing trips from FIRS, other staff who received these fraudulent payments also handed over to him part of their own money.”

The investigator said between 2017 and 2018, Garunbaba received the sum of N341, 971,960.00 (three hundred and forty one million, nine hundred and seventy-one thousand, nine hundred and fifty naira) from the misappropriated DTA payments.

He said Garunbaba also personally converted to his use the sum of N148, 079,450.00 (one hundred and forty eight million, seventy nine thousand, four hundred and fifty naira).

“The respondent gave details of the various funds he received in the fraudulent scheme and how he utilised some of them in his extra l-judicial statements to the applicant,” he averred

Wudah said Garunbaba, in explaining how he shared part of the entire funds, wrote in his extra-judicial statement made in the presence of his legal representative on May 23, 2019 some startling revelations.

He said the respondent revealed that the total sum of N269, 335, 750 was giving as follows: Peter Hena, 145,000,000; Bello Auta, N95, 000,000; and Aminu Sidi, N29, 336,750.

He said Garunbaba confessed that the money was giving in cash at the FIRS office.

The investigator said Garunbaba received part of the above diverted funds through his Stanbic IBTC Bank account while the rest were in cash from other staff.

He said Garunbaba also converted most of these funds into US dollars through a Bureau De Change Operator , Wan Shehu.

“According to Mr. Shehu, between 2017 and 2019, the respondent gave him a total sum of about N216, 000, 000 at different occasions for him to exchange into United States Dollars which he did” Wudah said.

The EFCC operative said in 2018, Garunbaba purchased the four bedroom terrace maisonette from Barumark Investment and Development Company Ltd (Barumark) at the rate of N65,000,000.00 (sixty five million naira).

He said the money was paid through his First Bank account number: 3040986059 to Barumark’s First Bank account.

He said Garunbaba equally purchased the property situated at No.5 Lodge Road in Kano State at the sum of N39, 000,000.00 (thirty nine million naira) from one Alakhillau Enterprises which is operated by Adamu Muhammed.

Wudah said Garunbaba is a public servant on fixed annual salary whose lawful income was not used to purchase the property described.

He said the assets were purchased at the time Garunbaba was receiving and diverting funds paid as DTA by the FIRS to him and his colleagues.

Fraud rocks FIRS, court orders final forfeiture of Abuja, Kano houses linked to official

Related Topics:abuja Featured FIRS fraud Kano

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Grand Chief Imam Visits DSS Director, Seeks Stronger Security Collaboration in Oyo

Published

5 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Grand Chief Imam Visits DSS Director, Seeks Stronger Security Collaboration in Oyo

The Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Sheikh Al-Imam Barrister Bilal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu, on Tuesday paid a courtesy visit to the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Oyo State, Mr. Usman Biu, as part of efforts to deepen cooperation between religious leaders and security agencies.

The visit, which took place in Oyo State, focused on strengthening the existing relationship between the Muslim community and security institutions, with an emphasis on promoting peace, unity, and public safety.

Accompanying the Grand Imam was Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, a prominent member of the Oyo State Muslim community.

Speaking during the engagement, Sheikh Akeugberu stressed the need for sustained collaboration between religious authorities and security agencies in maintaining societal stability and addressing emerging security threats. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Muslim community in Oyo Land to support lawful authorities in ensuring peace and harmony across the state.

In his remarks, DSS Director Usman Biu expressed appreciation for the visit and lauded the leadership role of the Grand Chief Imam in fostering unity and peaceful coexistence. He assured the delegation of the DSS’s continued resolve to protect lives and property, while encouraging ongoing dialogue with community stakeholders.

The meeting is seen as a step toward enhancing synergy between religious institutions and security agencies in Oyo State, amid growing calls for community-based approaches to tackling security challenges.

Grand Chief Imam Visits DSS Director, Seeks Stronger Security Collaboration in Oyo

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FG Disburses ₦9.9bn Cash Transfer to Vulnerable Households in Ondo

Published

10 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr Bernard Doro

FG Disburses ₦9.9bn Cash Transfer to Vulnerable Households in Ondo

The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has disbursed about ₦9.9 billion in direct cash transfers to poor and vulnerable households in Ondo State as part of its expanded social protection and poverty reduction programme.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr Bernard Doro, disclosed this during a working visit to Akure, where he met with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as part of a nationwide assessment of the Renewed Hope social intervention initiatives.

According to the minister, the cash transfer programme is implemented under the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to provide direct financial support to the poorest households and strengthen social welfare systems across Nigeria.

He explained that beneficiaries under the Household Prosperity and Cash Transfer Programme receive ₦75,000 in three tranches, with more than nine million households benefiting nationwide since the rollout began.

Doro stated that Ondo State alone has received “about ₦9.9 billion across successive payment cycles,” covering initial, second, and ongoing phases of the national disbursement programme.

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He added that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to poverty alleviation in Nigeria, social inclusion, and targeted welfare delivery aimed at reducing economic hardship among vulnerable citizens.

However, the minister raised concerns about low awareness among some beneficiaries, stressing the need for improved grassroots sensitisation to ensure eligible citizens fully understand and access the programme.

He noted that the federal government is currently conducting verification exercises across states, including Ondo, to confirm beneficiaries, validate data, and strengthen transparency in the distribution process.

Doro further explained that the ongoing engagement also serves as a data validation exercise, aimed at improving accountability, enhancing targeting, and reducing inclusion errors in future welfare programmes.

In his remarks, Governor Aiyedatiwa disclosed that Ondo State has recorded about 396,671 beneficiary households across the different payment cycles, describing the programme as one of the largest social intervention efforts in the state.

The governor commended the Tinubu administration for prioritising direct cash support to vulnerable citizens, noting that the initiative has helped cushion the effects of economic challenges at the grassroots level.

He also urged relevant agencies to address challenges linked to National Identification Number (NIN) registration, which he said has affected seamless access to some federal support schemes.

Earlier, at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ibule, Ifedore Local Government Area, the minister said the Federal Government is working on a redesigned national social protection framework to improve efficiency and impact.

He emphasised that stronger community engagement is essential for future interventions to reflect real needs, adding that stakeholder participation remains key to improving delivery of federal cash transfer programmes in Nigeria.

FG Disburses ₦9.9bn Cash Transfer to Vulnerable Households in Ondo

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Court Orders Forfeiture of ₦33.6bn Opioids Seized by NDLEA at Onne Port

Published

10 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Court Orders Forfeiture of ₦33.6bn Opioids Seized by NDLEA at Onne Port

The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has granted an interim forfeiture order on 17 containers of illicit opioids worth ₦33.6 billion, seized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in one of the largest pharmaceutical drug interceptions in Nigeria’s recent anti-narcotics operations.

The containers were intercepted at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Onne, Rivers State, between April and September 2025, during multiple coordinated inspections targeting suspicious cargo linked to drug trafficking in Nigeria.

Court Orders Forfeiture of ₦33.6bn Opioids Seized by NDLEA at Onne Port According to court filings and NDLEA statements, the shipments contained a massive haul of controlled substances, including 19.6 million pills of Tramadol, Tafrodol, Tapentadol, and Carisoprodol, as well as 2,496,400 bottles of Codeine syrup, with a combined estimated street value of ₦33,691,200,000.

The forfeiture order was issued by Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, following a motion ex parte filed by the NDLEA on February 10, 2026, in suit number FHC/PH/MISC/25/2026.

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In his ruling, the judge ordered that the 17 shipping containers, along with their contents weighing about 365,657 kilograms of psychotropic substances, be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria pending final determination of the case.

He further directed that custody and possession of the seized containers be handed over to the applicant agency until the conclusion of legal proceedings.

Reacting to the ruling, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the development as a significant blow to drug cartels operating in Nigeria, stating that the forfeiture effectively dismantles the financial structure behind the illicit trade.

He said the seizure was not only a disruption of supply but a direct hit on the economic backbone of criminal syndicates that profit from the distribution of dangerous opioids, particularly among young people.

Marwa commended the Nigerian judiciary for what he described as swift and firm intervention, noting that judicial cooperation remains critical in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse in Nigeria.

He also praised NDLEA operatives attached to the Onne Port Command for their vigilance and professionalism, which led to the detection of the concealed shipments. He acknowledged the support of sister agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service and other port stakeholders, whose collaboration ensured the success of the operation.

The NDLEA boss further highlighted the role of international intelligence partners in strengthening Nigeria’s anti-narcotics efforts, adding that global cooperation continues to play a key role in intercepting transnational drug shipments.

Authorities say the latest forfeiture reinforces Nigeria’s ongoing crackdown on opioid trafficking networks, which have been identified as a major contributor to drug abuse and public health concerns across the country.