Umar Mohammed, former Managing Director of Nigerian Military Properties Restricted (NAPL), is difficult the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) over its declare {that a} Federal Excessive Courtroom in Lagos granted a closing forfeiture of shares price N246 million.
Mohammed’s authorized group insists the anti-graft company misled the general public, arguing that the case continues to be pending earlier than the courtroom and that due course of was ignored in securing the controversial order.
On August 26, 2025, the EFCC introduced through its official X account {that a} Federal Excessive Courtroom in Lagos had ordered the ultimate forfeiture of 246,305,544 shares valued at about N5 billion, stated to be proceeds of illegal actions carried out throughout Mohammed’s tenure at NAPL.
The announcement adopted a ruling delivered by Dehinde Dipeolu, the decide.
Nevertheless, paperwork obtained from the courtroom and sources conversant in the matter reveal that the case, registered as Go well with No: FHC/L/MISC/404/25, had already been adjourned by Chukwujekwu Aneke (Justice) to October 8, 2025.
The adjournment got here after Mohammed’s authorized representatives, led by Olalekan Ojo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria filed an affidavit on July 29, 2025, stating why the shares shouldn’t be completely forfeited.
It was learnt that the EFCC had earlier approached the courtroom on April 29, 2025, looking for interim forfeiture of the shares listed in schedules A, B, and C of the case.
Aneke granted the interim order on Might 7, 2025, and directed that or not it’s revealed in a nationwide every day, which was executed on July 9, 2025.
This, in accordance with the supply, paved the way in which for any events to problem the appliance.
Mohammed’s group complied by submitting its affidavit, however earlier than the adjourned date for listening to, the EFCC returned to courtroom in the course of the annual trip and secured a closing forfeiture order regardless of the pending affidavit.
On August 29, 2025, Ojo filed a movement to put aside Dipeolu’s ruling, arguing that the courtroom erred in legislation by granting the EFCC’s software throughout trip with out compliance with situations precedent.
The protection additional contended that the forfeiture order disregarded materials info, notably that the shares in query have been acquired between 2007 and 2015, years earlier than Mohammed was appointed Managing Director of NAPL in October 2015.
The case has additionally raised issues as a result of an identical go well with had been filed earlier on the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja.
That matter, presided over by N.E. Maha (Justice) below Go well with No: FHC/ABJ/CS/857/2024 (EFCC v. Awhua Assets Ltd & Anor), concerned the identical shares allegedly linked to Mohammed however was struck out on April 8, 2025, for lack of diligent prosecution.
The controversy stems from a petition submitted to the EFCC on November 7, 2021, by Isah Doma, a rtd Brigadier Normal, who succeeded Mohammed as head of NAPL.
Army sources declare the petition was a part of a effort by Doma and a few serving and retired officers to tarnish Mohammed’s repute and mislead the EFCC into taking motion in opposition to him.
Efforts to get Mohammed’s response have been unsuccessful, as sources disclosed that he’s present process medical therapy after greater than three years of detention by the Nigerian navy.
BusinessDay Newspapers had reported that the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Lagos ordered the everlasting forfeiture of shares valued at over N246 million traced to Mohammed, former MD of the NAPL, to the Federal Authorities.
In keeping with Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, Dipeolu delivered the ruling after granting an software by the the Fee, represented by H.U. Kofarnaisa, its counsel.
In keeping with the company, the shares have been proceeds of illegal actions uncovered throughout investigations right into a petition filed by NAPL.
“The petition alleged that Mohammed, alongside Yusuf Abdullahi Abubakar and Kayode Oladipupo Filani, diverted funds by promoting off firm properties whereas serving as NAPL’s head between 2015 and 2020.
“The order adopted an earlier interim forfeiture granted by Chukwujekwu Aneke (Justice), which was revealed in a nationwide newspaper to permit objections from events”, it said.
Investigators alleged that the proceeds have been laundered by means of the acquisition of shares in a number of firms through Awhua Assets Restricted.
The acquisitions included N115.6 million in Nationwide Aviation Dealing with Firm shares, N81.9 million in Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, N40.1 million in College Press Plc, N2 million in Oando Plc, and N1 million in Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc.
Dipeolu dominated that the EFCC had established its case and subsequently ordered the ultimate forfeiture of the shares listed within the software to the Federal Authorities.
