Court orders forfeiture of N17.1m linked to alleged romance fraud — EFCC 

The Federal High Court successful Lagos has ordered the last forfeiture of N17,100,595.40 to the Federal Government aft the wealth was linked to an alleged romance fraud strategy presently nether probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting successful Ikoyi gave the bid on Monday, June 1, 2026, pursuing an exertion filed by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 done its counsel, C.C. Okezie.

A connection by the EFCC said the funds, domiciled successful an Access Bank account, are linked to Ifeanyi Alele David, who is being investigated by the anti-graft bureau implicit alleged romance scam activities and related offences.

The tribunal had earlier, connected February 26, 2026, granted an interim forfeiture of the wealth and directed the EFCC to people the bid successful a nationalist paper to let immoderate funny enactment to amusement origin wherefore the funds should not beryllium permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

During proceedings for the last forfeiture, Okezie told the tribunal that the Commission complied with the directive by publishing the interim forfeiture announcement successful The Punch paper connected April 10, 2026.

She further informed the tribunal that nary idiosyncratic oregon organisation came guardant wrong the stipulated play to situation the forfeiture.

The EFCC’s exertion was supported by an affidavit deposed to by 1 of its operativ...