A retired Major General and former Managing Director of Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL), U.M. Mohammed, has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to overturn the order of final forfeiture of shares worth about N5 billion granted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The shares, totaling 246,305,544 units across several blue-chip companies, were forfeited to the Federal Government on August 26, 2025, after the EFCC alleged they were acquired with funds diverted from fraudulent sales of NAPL properties during Mohammed’s tenure.
The disputed investments include holdings in Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Conoil Plc, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Eterna Plc, Flour Mills Plc, Japaul Gold & Ventures Plc, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Oando Plc, University Press Plc, and Vitafoam Nigeria Plc.
But in a motion on notice obtained by Hobnob News on Sunday, Mohammed insisted the shares were legitimately purchased between 2007 and 2015, years before his appointment as Managing Director of NAPL in October 2015.
“The shares listed in Schedules A, B and C to the motion ex parte filed on April 29, 2025, do not represent proceeds of any crime or unlawful activities,” said Joseph Effiong, who deposed to an affidavit on behalf of the ex-general.
Mohammed further argued that the forfeiture was marred by procedural irregularities. He alleged that his affidavit to show cause, filed on July 29, was not considered and that he was denied a fair hearing when the case—initially slated for October 8—was brought before a vacation judge without proper notice to him or his counsel.
He also faulted the EFCC for failing to apply for the final forfeiture order within 60 days of the interim order granted on May 7, 2025, as required by the Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022.
According to him, “Non-service of hearing notice is a denial of the constitutional right of the party interested to a fair hearing and fair trial. The final forfeiture order was made in ignorance of the affidavit to show cause filed on July 29.”
The ex-general is therefore seeking an order to set aside the entire proceedings in Suit No. FHC/L/MISC/404/, including the final forfeiture of the shares.
The court has yet to fix a date for hearing his application.
