A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of a London property linked to the late military officer and former minister, Jeremiah Useni, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Delivering judgment, Justice Binta Nyako ruled that the property located at 79 Randall Avenue was reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities. The court granted the application for final forfeiture filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), describing it as meritorious and supported by credible evidence.
The ruling followed an earlier interim forfeiture and preservation order secured by the CCB on November 28, 2025. Subsequently, the court directed the agency to publish a public notice inviting any interested parties, including representatives of Useni’s estate, to appear and show cause why the property should not be permanently forfeited.
However, no individual or entity came forward to challenge the forfeiture, and no legal representation was entered on behalf of the estate, paving the way for the court’s final order.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2333/2025, listed the administrators of Useni’s estate and the property itself as respondents.
The forfeited asset has also featured in separate legal disputes involving senior advocate Mike Ozekhome and a family member, Ponfa Useni, though those matters reportedly involving allegations such as fraud and forgery are being handled independently and did not directly affect the forfeiture proceedings.
Legal analysts note that the Nigerian government may still need to initiate proceedings in the United Kingdom to enforce the judgment and effect the transfer of ownership, given the property’s overseas location.
The ruling forms part of broader asset recovery efforts by Nigerian authorities targeting properties suspected to be proceeds of corruption, particularly those held outside the country.