A Justice of the Federal High Court in Kano, Zainab Abubakar, has rejected an application filed by former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, seeking the retrieval of $9.8 million forfeited to government.
In February, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered $9.8 million and £74,000 from a building which reportedly belongs to Yakubu in one Kaduna suburb.
The anti-graft agency then approached the court for an order of interim forfeiture, which was granted.
But Yakubu’s counsel, Ahmed Raji, filed an application asking the court to set aside the order on the premise that it had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
The application was dismissed yesterday.
Yakubu is currently facing charges of money laundering before a Federal High Court in Abuja.