The Federal High Court in Kaduna has ordered the final forfeiture of about N49 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Justice Saleh Musa Shuaibu of the court gave the directive during its sitting in Kaduna, according to a statement on Friday night by the Head of Media Kaduna Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Zainab Sani Ahmed.

The money was intercepted by the commission in 2017 at the Kaduna International Airport.

The final forfeiture order followed a motion on notice brought by the EFCC through prosecution counsel, Joshua Saidi and Onyeka Ekweozor.

According to EFCC, the money, all mint, stashed in five large 150 kilogramme coloured sacks, was intercepted by EFCC Operatives following an intelligence report received by the zone.

The statement said after obtaining an interim forfeiture order, “some persons showed up and claimed to be the owners of the abandoned money.

“They further filed a counter affidavit against the Commission’s motion for the final forfeiture in suit No: FHC/KD/CS/32/17 between Oyebanji Olaitan Steve & others Vs EFCC.”