Court Orders ₦150m Linked to Delta Lawmaker Forfeited to FG

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the permanent forfeiture of ₦150 million linked to Delta lawmaker Nicholas Mutu to the Federal Government.

The ruling followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which argued that the money was part of illegal kickbacks allegedly received by the six-term House of Representatives member while serving as chairman of the House Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

According to the EFCC, its investigation found that Mutu allegedly received over ₦400 million in kickbacks from an NDDC consultant. The funds were said to have passed through the accounts of two companies linked to the lawmaker before being laundered.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the ₦150 million refunded by Mutu constituted proceeds of unlawful activities and ordered its final forfeiture after finding no sufficient reason to reverse an earlier interim forfeiture order.

The decision comes despite a separate Federal High Court judgment in April that discharged and acquitted Mutu of ₦320 million money laundering charges. The EFCC has appealed that ruling, insisting the evidence supports its case.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that documents claiming Airworld Technologies carried out subcontract work were fabricated to conceal the alleged kickback payments, an allegation the consultant later reportedly confirmed during the investigation.

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