A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned until October 16, 2026, the hearing in a suit seeking to set aside an interim forfeiture order against properties belonging to businessman Abdullahi Saidu. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had obtained an ex parte order to temporarily freeze Saidu’s assets pending the hearing and determination of the suit. Saidu is however challenging the order.
The matter could not proceed when it came up in court on Friday, as counsel to the commission, Mr J.N Dongonyaro, said he had yet to file a counter-affidavit to the application by Saidu seeking to vacate the forfeiture order. Justice Musa Liman subsequently adjourned the matter until Oct. 16 for hearing of the motion seeking to set aside the interim forfeiture order.
The court processes sighted by the Independent on Friday show that 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 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 Kamal Oladayo Soetan and Adamu Abdullahi Yerima, also known as Adamu Waziri, 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 dollars 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. KEY_POINT: The court adjourned the matter until October 16, 2026, for hearing of Saidu’s application seeking to set aside the interim forfeiture order earlier obtained by the EFCC.
Key points
- The EFCC alleged that Saidu used his share of the proceeds to acquire the properties.
- The suspects were initially apprehended by the DSS for alleged impersonation but were released following a court order and had since gone into hiding.
