…as NPF secures permanent forfeiture of ₦2bn assets
The Nigeria Police Force, via the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja, has secured two landmark judgments at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), DCP Anthony Placid, the court judgements have significantly strengthened the nation’s criminal jurisprudence while firmly revalidating the legal authority of law enforcement to investigate criminal matters without external hindrance.
In the first development, Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite granted a permanent forfeiture order on assets valued at over ₦2 billion belonging to a financial sector employee, Alonge Opeyemi Yetunde, and her accomplices.
The final forfeiture order, registered under Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/274/2026, covers an extensive array of properties and financial holdings distributed across Lagos, Osun, Delta states, and the Federal Capital Territory.
The seized items include multiple active bank accounts, digital wallets, luxury vehicles, and prime real estate portfolios.
The principal suspect is currently remanded at the Suleja Correctional Custodial Centre as her trial on charges bordering on advanced fraud and money laundering continues.
In a parallel ruling, Hon. Justice Bello Kawu dismissed a ₦100 million Fundamental Rights Enforcement Suit initiated by a United States-based suspect, David Imole Averehi, against the Nigeria Police Force and the Assistant Inspector General of Police, INTERPOL (Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/4119/45).
In his judgment, Justice Kawu ruled that the judiciary cannot be weaponized to obstruct the statutory obligations of the police or serve as a shield to insulate individuals involved in criminal conduct from the reach of justice.
The dismissal effectively clears the path for the NCB to advance its prosecution of Averehi on criminal charges related to obtaining money under false pretenses.
Spokesperson for the Force Headquarters, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, noted that the police remains resolute in utilizing international operational partnerships and robust legal frameworks to clamp down on financial crimes and preserve the economic integrity of the country.