Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of N400 million allegedly linked to Air Vice Marshal Abdulraheem Mikail Babatunde to the Federal Government. The funds are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. The order was granted by Justice Emeka Nwite after counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abba Muhammed, SAN, moved the motion to that effect.
The EFCC had listed five grounds why the application should be granted, citing the court's statutory powers under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. The commission alleged that the funds were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and that no reasonable cause had been shown why they should not be finally forfeited.
The court had made an interim order forfeiting the funds on December 31, 2025, and the order was published in a national newspaper. The EFCC had investigated the purchase of several luxurious properties using unlicensed bureau de change operators, and a property worth N400 million was discovered to be linked to Air Vice Marshal Abdulraheem.
The order for final forfeiture was made on March 17, 2026, but the enrolled order was sighted on Thursday in Abuja. The EFCC had listed several transactions between Air Vice Marshal Abdulraheem's company and Cosgrove Investment Limited, which was involved in building a luxurious mansion worth N400 million.
The final forfeiture of N400 million linked to Air Vice Marshal Abdulraheem is a significant blow to the suspect, who has been accused of laundering proceeds of unlawful activities. The EFCC's investigation into the purchase of luxurious properties using unlicensed bureau de change operators has led to several high-profile cases, including this one. The order for final forfeiture sends a strong message that the government will not tolerate the misuse of public funds. The case highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the public sector, particularly in the military. The EFCC's efforts to root out corruption and recover stolen funds are crucial to building trust in the government and its institutions.
