News
Court orders forfeiture of Yahaya Bello’s properties
The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has reinstated an interim order of forfeiture on 14 high-value properties linked to former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, overturning an earlier ruling by the Federal High Court that had set the order aside.
In a judgment delivered via virtual proceedings on Wednesday, a three-member panel led by Justice Yargata Nimpar—with Justices Danlami Senchi and Paul Bassi concurring—ruled that the Federal High Court erred in law when it dismissed the case on the basis of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides immunity for sitting governors.
The appellate court held that while immunity may shield individuals from legal action, it does not extend to assets suspected to have been acquired through unlawful means.
It therefore reinstated the EFCC’s interim preservation order and instructed the anti-corruption agency to proceed with a substantive hearing to determine whether the assets should be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The ruling followed an appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) challenging the decision of Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, who had earlier dismissed the commission’s case.
The properties in question, located in Lagos, Abuja, and Dubai, had initially been seized under an interim order secured by the EFCC via an ex parte application.
The commission claimed the assets were acquired through proceeds of corruption and included, among others, a luxury residence in the iconic Burj Khalifa, Dubai.
Justice Oweibo, however, set aside the order after Governor Bello contested the seizure.
Bello argued that the properties were acquired before his tenure as governor and were therefore unrelated to state funds.
His legal team cited Section 308 as grounds for immunity and further argued that the Federal High Court lacked territorial jurisdiction over properties outside Lagos.
They also challenged the applicability of the Proceeds of Crime Act, 2022, stating that the law should not be applied retroactively.
In counterarguments, EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) maintained that the anti-graft agency acted within its statutory powers and that the properties were subject to investigation regardless of the governor’s immunity status.
He insisted that the EFCC had not been barred by any valid court order from investigating or preserving such assets.
The appeal court, siding with the EFCC, ruled that the trial court’s reliance on the immunity clause was misplaced.
“The immunity granted to a sitting governor does not preclude the court from determining the status of property reasonably suspected to be the proceeds of crime,” Justice Nimpar stated.
The appellate court dismissed all preliminary objections raised by Bello’s counsel and ruled that the case should not have been struck out but rather heard to its logical conclusion.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria will on Thursday, deliver judgments in two cases involving the leadership crises rocking the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to information on the official website of the court, the matters, listed under “Political Appeals”, have been added to the cause list for Thursday, April 30, 2026.
While judgment in the ADC matter, marked SC/CV/180/2026, has been fixed for 2 pm, there is no time yet for that if the PDP.
President Bola Tinubu has written the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of fifteen nominees to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The letter was read by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The letter seeks the reconstitution of the commission’s board in line with statutory provisions with the list comprising nominees from diverse professional backgrounds, including the media and legal sectors.
Among the nominees are the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors and Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Eze Anaba; and Dr. Salamatu Hussaina Suleiman, who has been proposed as chairman of the board.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Anthony Ojukwu (SAN) is to retain his position as the Chief Executive Officer.
Other nominees include Mrs Roseline Tasha, Ambassador Adam Yubak Baku, ACG Felix Lawrence, Mr. Edmund Chinonye, Mr. Chinonye Obiaku (SAN), Oluwakemi Asiwaju Okere-Odo, Professor Adedeji Ogunji, Kingsley Chidozie, Mohammed Adelodu, Maupe Ogun Yusuf, and Otunba Francis Meshioye as members.
Also nominated are Patience Patrick and Hawwa Ibrahim, listed as members.
The President said the nominations were made pursuant to Section 2(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Establishment) Act, 2010, which empowers him to constitute the board subject to Senate confirmation.
He explained that the reconstitution of the board was necessary to enhance the commission’s institutional capacity and enable it to more effectively discharge its mandate to promote and protect human rights across the country.
If confirmed, the new board is expected to play a critical role in reinforcing the NHRC’s oversight functions, particularly at a time of heightened concerns over rights protection and accountability in Nigeria.
Following the presentation of the request, the Senate referred the nominations to its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for screening and report within two weeks.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has revealed that it investigated the founder of Streams of Joy International, Pastor Jerry Eze, for six months over suspected money laundering before clearing him.
Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Commission, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking at the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja.
According to him, the probe was triggered by intelligence reports and petitions after the commission observed large inflows of foreign currencies into the cleric’s domiciliary account.
“We work by intelligence, we work by petitions. At some point, I saw there was an account, a domiciliary account. Dollars, pounds were dropping in like raindrops, from Colombia, from America, from Sri Lanka, even from Togo.
“I said who is this man? Yes, I’ve been hearing about his name, I’ve seen his face a couple of times. I never bothered about what he was doing. I knew he was a pastor.
“So they said this one pastor of streams of joy, go and investigate him. So we went to the investigation. We combed the books,” Olukoyede stated.
The EFCC boss said he subsequently invited Eze for questioning after preliminary findings were compiled by investigators.
He added that upon meeting the cleric and reviewing the findings of the investigation, the commission found no wrongdoing.
“So he came to my office. He told me what happens and all of that, and how the money came, what he does, how he has been helping people, and all of that.
“I said, you know what, I didn’t call you here to explain to me. We have already done our work. I called you here to commend you,” he stated.
The remark drew applause from the audience, as Eze, who was present at the event, acknowledged the commendation.
He noted that the commission has a responsibility not only to investigate financial crimes but also to recognise individuals found to have acted with integrity.
The EFCC chairman, however, stated that the agency would continue to monitor financial activities where necessary, stressing that its preventive mandate remains critical in tackling corruption.
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