Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, June 1, 2026, ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of N17,100,595.40 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The forfeited fund, domiciled in Access Bank, is linked to one Ifeanyi Alele David, who is under investigation for alleged romance fraud and related criminal activities by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The judge issued the order, following a motion on notice filed by the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, Ikoyi, through its counsel, C.C.Okezie.

The court had, on February 26, 2026, granted an interim forfeiture order of the fund and directed the Commission to publish the order in a national newspaper to enable any interested person or entity to show cause why it should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

While moving the application for the final forfeiture, Okezie informed the court that the Commission complied with the publication order by publishing the interim forfeiture notice in The Punch newspaper on April 10, 2026.

Okezie also stated that no individual or entity came forward within the stipulated period to contest the forfeiture.

She further stated that the application was supported by an affidavit deposed to by an EFCC operative, Samson Aguma, who detailed the findings of the Commission’s investigation.

According to the affidavit, the EFCC received a petition from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, alleging that David was involved in a romance scam scheme connected to the tragic death of a United States of American citizen.

According to him, on September 15, 2021, a romance fraud victim committed suicide in a hotel room in Denver, Colorado, USA.

Following the discovery of her body, law enforcement officers recovered her mobile device and observed multiple messages from an individual identified as “Garry Micheal” through the Google Hangouts application.

Investigations further revealed that the suspect repeatedly solicited funds from the victim under various false pretences, including requests for money to secure his release from prison and facilitate his return to the United States.

The affidavit disclosed that on the day the victim took her own life, the suspect allegedly demanded an additional sum of $60,000 from her, despite her expressing severe financial distress and indicating that she had exhausted her resources.

Further investigations by the FBI allegedly established that the victim sent approximately $154,500

between August 30 and September 13, 2021, through various channels connected to the fraudulent scheme.

Aguma stated that forensic analysis traced email accounts, internet protocol (IP) addresses, telephone records, and an Apple iCloud account linked to the romance fraud activities to David in Nigeria.

He further disclosed that the sum of N17,100,595.40 found in David’s Access Bank account was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and formed part of the funds derived from the fraudulent scheme.

After listening to the submissions of the EFCC and reviewing the affidavit evidence before the court, Justice Owoeye held that the application had merit and consequently ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of N17,100,595.40 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

By Felix Umande, Makurdi

Members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in Benue State staged a solidarity protest in Makurdi on Monday, joining colleagues across Nigeria to demand the immediate rescue of schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped in Oyo and Borno States.

Led by Benue NUT chairman Levi Akuma, the teachers marched through major streets of the state capital carrying placards with inscriptions condemning attacks on schools and chanting solidarity songs.

They called on federal and state governments to intensify security around schools and act swiftly to free the abducted victims.

Akuma said the protest became necessary to express frustration over the continued targeting of schools and education workers.

“What we are demanding is the immediate rescue of schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped in Oyo and Borno States over two weeks ago,” he told journalists during the rally.

The demonstration in Makurdi was part of a nationwide action by NUT and other labour unions, united in a collective call for the protection of schools and the safe return of all abducted teachers and students.

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia addressed the protesters through the Secretary to the State Government, Dcns. Serumun Deborah Aber, Esq.

He assured teachers that his administration is collaborating with the Federal Government to secure schools in the state and nationwide.

“Governor Alia’s administration is doing everything possible to ensure that abandoned schools are rehabilitated and made safe for the Benue child to access quality education,” Aber said.

The protest highlights growing concern among education stakeholders over rising insecurity in schools, with teachers urging coordinated action to prevent future attacks and safeguard learning environments.

By Saint Mugaga

The House of Representatives has urged the federal government and all relevant security agencies to take immediate and decisive actions to rescue the 42 abducted school children from Mussa Ward, Askira-Uba local government area.

The call was made following the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance by Hon. Usman Bilama (APC, Borno) at Tuesday’s plenary session.

While adopting the motion, the House also advised the federal government to strengthen security around schools in Borno State and other vulnerable parts of the country through enhanced deployment of security personnel, improved intelligence gathering, and effective rapid-response mechanisms.

It equally encouraged the expansion and strengthening of school protection initiatives, including the establishment of early warning systems, community-based security arrangements, security awareness programmes, and improved surveillance infrastructure around schools.

Presenting the motion, Hon. Bilama noted that the safety of our children and the protection of education must remain a national priority.

“Our children deserve to learn in an environment free from fear, and our citizens deserve the assurance that government will act decisively to protect lives and property. The time for action is now”, he stated.

The lawmaker said he was deeply concern about the reported abduction of 42 school children from Mussa Ward in Askira-Uba local government area of Borno state.

He recalled the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014, many of whom remain unaccounted for to this day, as well as the abduction of over 400 adults and children from Ngoshe and numerous persons along the Biu-Buratai Road and other communities in Borno State, many of whom remain in captivity.

“Concerned that the recurring attacks on schools and communities continue to threaten access to education, endanger lives, traumatise families, disrupt livelihoods, and undermine public confidence in the capacity of government to guarantee security;

“Further concerned that persistent insecurity has contributed to widespread fear among citizens and has negatively affected school enrollment and attendance in vulnerable communities;

“Aware of the urgent need for decisive and coordinated action to safeguard schools, restore public confidence, and secure the release of all abducted persons;

“Observed that communities are increasingly losing confidence in government responses to insecurity and economic hardship, and are demanding visible and concrete actions rather than repeated assurances”.

The motion was unanimously adopted.