Court Orders Forfeiture of UK Property Linked to Late Minister Useni
Federal High Court Abuja has ordered final forfeiture of a London property linked to late former FCT Minister Jeremiah Useni to the Federal Government. Justice Binta Nyako granted the Code of Conduct Bureau's motion, finding the property at No. 79 Randall Avenue, Neasden, London NW2 7SX was acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities. The court had granted an interim preservation order on the property, with the motion citing November 20, 2025, while the supporting affidavit later mentioned November 28, 2025, and published a notice in the Tribune on March 4, 2026, inviting objections. No one came forward to contest the forfeiture. The CCB's investigator Raji Rasaq presented evidence that Useni purchased the property under a fictitious name to conceal ownership. A UK First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) case REF/2023/0155 previously determined that neither 'Mr Tali Shani' nor 'Ms Tali Shani' existed, finding all submitted documents fraudulent. Senior Advocate of Nigeria Mike Ozekhome had claimed he received the property as a gift from 'Mr Tali Shani' in 2021, but the tribunal dismissed this claim. The CCB's forensic analysis compared Useni's declared income against the property's value, revealing substantial unexplained wealth. The bureau obtained RMAFC's remuneration data for public office holders to conduct the net worth assessment. This ruling represents a significant cross-border asset recovery win for Nigeria, demonstrating the ability to pursue and confiscate foreign properties obtained through corruption. It also highlights the CCB's enhanced investigative capabilities, including forensic accounting and international coordination. Will this encourage more aggressive pursuit of overseas assets by Nigerian anti-corruption agencies? What due process safeguards exist for property owners? How should public officials with foreign holdings adjust their compliance practices?