The Federal High Court in Ikoyi has ordered the final forfeiture of $20,000 and CFA 110,000 to the Federal Government of Nigeria, in a case handled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The judgment was delivered on Wednesday by Justice Dehinde Dipeolu following a motion filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC, represented by their lawyer, H.U. Kofarnaisa.

The funds were initially intercepted by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at Seme Border in Lagos State and subsequently transferred to the EFCC for investigation. The commission contended that the monies were reasonably suspected to have originated from unlawful activities.

In court, Kofarnaisa argued that it was in the interest of justice for the funds to be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government. Justice Dipeolu agreed, declaring that the argument had merit and granting the EFCC’s request.

EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale confirmed the ruling, noting that it forms part of the commission’s ongoing effort to combat financial crimes and ensure that illicitly acquired funds are recovered and returned to public coffers. The commission has maintained that such measures are crucial to discouraging financial malfeasance and reinforcing accountability within the nation’s economic system.

This order underscores the Federal Government’s continued emphasis on recovering intercepted assets and strengthening enforcement against financial offences in Nigeria.