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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Police secure ₦2bn asset forfeiture in major fraud case

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • The Nigeria Police Force secured two Federal High Court judgments, including a permanent forfeiture of assets valued over ₦2 billion in a major fraud case.
  • The forfeited assets include bank accounts, digital wallets, vehicles, and real estate spread across Lagos, Osun, Delta states, and the FCT.
  • In a separate ruling, a ₦100 million fundamental rights enforcement suit against the police was dismissed, allowing the prosecution of an alleged fraud suspect.

The Nigeria Police Force has achieved significant victories in its fight against financial crimes, securing two crucial Federal High Court judgments. One judgment resulted in the permanent forfeiture of assets valued at over ₦2 billion, linked to financial sector staff member Alonge Opeyemi Yetunde and her accomplices.

On Tuesday, 14 May 2026, Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite granted a permanent forfeiture order on assets valued at over ₦2 Billion belonging to financial sector staff member Alonge Opeyemi Yetunde and her accomplices (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/274/2026).

— DCP Anthony PlacidDisclosing the details of the permanent forfeiture order secured by the Nigeria Police Force.

The forfeited assets, which include bank accounts, digital wallets, vehicles, and real estate, are located across Lagos, Osun, Delta states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The principal suspect in this case is currently remanded at the Suleja Correctional Custodial Centre, facing charges related to fraud and money laundering.

In a related development, the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a ₦100 million fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by David Averehi, an American-based suspect, against the Nigeria Police Force and the Assistant Inspector General of Police for INTERPOL. Justice Bello Kawu ruled that the court cannot be used to obstruct statutory police duties or shield individuals involved in criminal conduct from investigation and prosecution.

The forfeited assets, spanning Lagos, Osun, Delta States, and the FCT, include bank accounts, digital wallets, vehicles, and real estate.

— DCP Anthony PlacidDescribing the scope and nature of the assets forfeited in the fraud case.

This ruling permits the National Central Bureau (NCB) to proceed with prosecuting Averehi for alleged offenses of obtaining money under false pretenses. The police reiterated their commitment to utilizing international partnerships and legal frameworks to combat financial crimes and protect Nigeria's economic integrity.

According to the ruling, the court held that it cannot be used to obstruct statutory police duties or shield individuals allegedly involved in criminal conduct from investigation and prosecution.

— Nigeria Police Force StatementExplaining the rationale behind the dismissal of the fundamental rights enforcement suit.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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