A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has reportedly ordered the final forfeiture of funds totalling N1,168,602,877.44, $392,818.01, and £35,070, recovered from a former employee of First Bank of Nigeria, Muiz Tijani Adeyinka, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

According to a statement on Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission via X, Justice A.O. Owoeye granted the final forfeiture order on Monday, February 3, 2025, following a motion on notice filed by the EFCC.

The order came after an initial interim forfeiture ruling made on November 27, 2024, which required the publication of the forfeiture notice in a national newspaper, allowing any interested party to contest the claim.

Counsel to the EFCC, Zeenat Atiku, while presenting the application, stated, “The Commission, on March 26, 2024, received a petition from First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) alleging fraudulent transactions in various bank accounts within and outside the bank.”

According to Atiku, investigations revealed that Adeyinka, the principal suspect, was a former staff member of First Bank and also served as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Golden Sieve Logistics Ltd, Golden Sieve Properties Ltd, and Golden Sieve Motors Ltd. These companies were duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

“He was attached to the Settlement Office of the bank and, by virtue of his office, had some inalienable access available only to the Settlement Office,” Atiku explained.

The EFCC’s counsel further stated that Adeyinka manipulated the settlement accounts by creating fictitious domiciliary inflows, transferring the naira equivalent to himself and his associates.

“In a bid to conceal and disguise the said fraudulent proceeds derived, he laundered the same by purchasing US Dollars and USDT,” Atiku added.

The illicit funds were traced to Adeyinka’s personal dollar account and cryptocurrency wallets.

Following the publication of the interim forfeiture order in The PUNCH newspaper on December 5, 2024, the court found no contesting claims against the forfeiture application.

After reviewing the supporting affidavit, written address, and the publication, Justice Owoeye ruled in favour of the EFCC’s application.

“I have considered the application. I have examined the affidavit in support, the written address, and the publication attached. The application has merit and the same is hereby granted,” the judge declared. (The PUNCH)