Court federal lawmaker to forfeit N150m to FG
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the permanent seizure of N150 million traced to Nicholas Mutu and directed that the money be handed over to the federal government.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik after the court agreed with the request filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The judge said the funds were linked to unlawful activities based on the evidence presented.
The EFCC told the court that the money formed part of payments allegedly received as kickbacks while Mutu served as chairman of the House of Representatives committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission.
The agency said its investigation showed that a total of N400.16 million was paid through companies tied to the lawmaker.
According to the EFCC, the funds were moved through bank accounts linked to Heritage Bank under firms identified as Airworld Technologies Ltd and Oyien Homes Ltd.
It also said Mutu and members of his family were connected to these companies as directors and shareholders.
The commission explained that the payments came after a consultancy firm, Starline Consultancy Services, worked with the House committee to recover debts owed to the NDDC by oil and gas firms operating in the Niger Delta.
It added that part of the consultant’s fees was later traced to companies linked to Mutu as kickback.
The court had earlier placed an interim order on the funds and allowed time for any opposition after public notice, but no valid objection was received.
Mutu had already refunded N150 million during the investigation, though he later argued that the payment was not voluntary and insisted the transactions were lawful.
