A Federal High Court has ordered the final forfeiture of $13 million claimed by Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd, a company linked to businesswoman Aisha Achimugu.
The ruling was delivered on Wednesday by Justice Emeka Nwite, who granted a motion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the transfer of the funds to the Federal Government.
Justice Nwite held that neither Oceangate Engineering nor Aisha Achimugu could provide credible evidence to prove that the money was legitimately earned.
“The claims that the money came from gifts to Ms. Achimugu or earnings from gas and oil-related contracts have not been substantiated by credible evidence,” the judge said.
The court also dismissed arguments by Darlington Ozurumba, lawyer to Oceangate Engineering, that the court lacked jurisdiction to grant the interim forfeiture on August 22, 2025, while sitting as a vacation court.
Justice Nwite upheld the submissions by EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), noting that all relevant laws, including Order 46(5) of the Federal High Court Rules and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2006, were properly observed in granting the interim order.
Describing the defense’s claims as unfounded, the judge added, “The argument that the EFCC was a meddlesome interloper is baseless. No person or corporate body complained to the commission that their funds were missing.”
