A court has ordered $49,700 seized from ex-INEC official Nura Ali to be forfeited permanently.
ICPC said no one claimed the money after public notice and investigation steps.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that $49,700 recovered from former Sokoto State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Nura Ali, be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the ruling on Wednesday after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission filed a motion for final forfeiture of the cash.
ICPC lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, informed the court that the agency had complied with an earlier directive to publish notices inviting anyone with a claim to the funds to appear. He said no person had come forward or sent legal representation since the publication.
He urged the court to approve the request, noting that all legal steps from the interim order to the present stage had been followed.
After reviewing the application and supporting documents, Justice Nwite held that the request had merit and granted the order.
The court had first issued a temporary forfeiture order on December 30, 2024, in a motion that listed the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the applicant and Dr Ali as the respondent.
The government maintained that the seized money could not be legitimate income for the former electoral official and was suspected to be linked to criminal activity. It further noted that INEC staff are not paid in United States dollars as salary or allowances.
The ruling clears the way for the government to take full possession of the funds.
