Abuja High Court Orders Final Forfeiture of 13 Million Dollars Linked to Firm Owned by Aisha Achimugu

Federal High Court orders final forfeiture of $13 million linked to Oceangate Engineering, citing failure to prove the funds were legitimately sourced.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 25, 2026, 8:52 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Peoples Gazette

Judicial Mandate for Permanent Asset Seizure

In a decisive ruling delivered on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja finalized the forfeiture of $13 million linked to Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd. Justice Emeka Nwite presided over the motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, concluding that the respondents failed to establish a legal origin for the substantial sum. The court's decision effectively transfers ownership of the contested funds to the federal government, marking a significant conclusion to a legal battle that began with an interim order in August 2025.

Evidentiary Failures and Defense Discreditation

During the proceedings, the court scrutinized the arguments presented by Oceangate’s legal counsel, Darlington Ozurumba, who claimed the millions were derived from personal gifts to Ms. Achimugu and legitimate oil sector contracts. However, Justice Nwite held that these assertions were not supported by verifiable facts or financial documentation. Furthermore, the judge dismissed jurisdictional challenges regarding the initial interim order, affirming that the anti graft agency had strictly adhered to the Advance Fee Fraud Act and relevant high court procedural rules.

Investigations Into Signature Bonus Payments

The roots of the forfeiture trace back to an intelligence report received by the EFCC regarding the acquisition of deep offshore and shallow water oil blocks. Investigator Usman Aliyu testified that Oceangate participated in a 2024 licensing bid, accruing financial obligations to the government totaling over $37 million. The commission alleged that while some payments were made in installments, a specific $13 million portion used for signature bonuses was funneled through unlicensed bureau de change operators and suspected shell entities to mask the illicit nature of the capital.