Nigeria Police Secures Court Orders to Seize $2bn Assets

The Nigeria Police Force has secured two significant court rulings that bolster its legal authority to pursue financial crimes, including a permanent forfeiture order for assets valued at over two billion naira. The judgments, announced by police officials this week, were delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In the first case, Justice Emeka Nwite issued a permanent forfeiture order on Tuesday, May 14, 2026, for assets linked to a financial sector employee, Alonge Opeyemi Yetunde, and her accomplices. The assets, valued at more than two billion naira, are located in Lagos, Osun, and Delta States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory. They include bank accounts, digital wallets, vehicles, and real estate. The principal suspect is currently remanded at the Suleja Correctional Custodial Centre and is facing charges of fraud and money laundering.

In a separate ruling on Monday, May 13, Justice Bello Kawu dismissed a 100 million naira fundamental rights enforcement suit. The suit was filed by an American-based suspect, David Imole Averehi, against the Nigeria Police Force and the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of INTERPOL. The court held that judicial...