Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed October 16, 2026, to hear a suit seeking to set aside an interim forfeiture order against properties belonging to businessman Abdullahi Saidu. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained the interim order to freeze Saidu's assets pending the hearing and determination of the suit. Saidu approached the court to challenge the order.
The matter was initially scheduled for hearing but could not proceed as Counsel to the EFCC, Mr. J.N Dongonyaro, stated that he had yet to file a counter-affidavit to Saidu's application seeking to vacate the forfeiture order. The court subsequently adjourned the matter until October 16 for hearing of the motion seeking to set aside the interim forfeiture order.
The properties affected by the forfeiture order include two units of four-bedroom semi-detached duplexes at Aliyu Villa, Brick City Phase 1, Kubwa, Abuja. Others are a three-bedroom terrace duplex at Tungan Yakubu, along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, and two landed properties designated as Plots C1 and C2. Also affected is Ngeil Supermarket Plaza, located at Sabon Wuse, Tafa Local Government Area of Niger.
The interim forfeiture order followed an application by the EFCC, pursuant to relevant provisions of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004, and the 1999 Constitution (as amended). In the ex-parte originating motion, the commission sought an interim order preserving the properties, which it said investigations had shown were allegedly purchased with fraudulently obtained funds.
The EFCC's application was supported by a nine-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Sale Shuaibu, an EFCC operative assigned to investigate allegations of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and obtaining money by false pretence against Saidu and others. The EFCC said its investigation followed a petition by Alhaji Adamu Ya'u, alleging that Saidu, in connivance with others, defrauded him in a diamond transaction.
According to the petition, the suspects represented to Ya'u that they owned 30 parcels of diamond pallets weighing about 50.210kg and 22 parcels of rough diamonds, which they offered to sell to him. The suspects allegedly demanded various sums from Ya'u for purported clearance and other reasons connected with the shipment. The petition alleged that Saidu collected $773,000 in tranches purportedly to clear the consignment at a Nigerian port.
The EFCC said investigations revealed that the diamonds were never supplied after the payments were made. The commission also said claims by the suspects that payments were made to the DSS for clearance at the ports were false. The total sum of money allegedly collected by the suspects amounted to N2.5 billion.
Key points
- The court has adjourned the matter until October 16, 2026, to hear the motion seeking to set aside the interim forfeiture order.
- The EFCC obtained the interim order to freeze Saidu's assets pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
- The properties affected by the forfeiture order include two units of four-bedroom semi-detached duplexes and a supermarket plaza.
