Ayobamiji Komolafe 
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of N2.7 billion suspected to be proceeds of illegal mining activities in Endo Community, Nasarawa State.
The forfeiture follows a motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ekele Iheanacho, under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.
The court had previously granted an interim forfeiture on July 8, 2024, which was published in The Punch Newspaper on August 8, 2024, inviting claims of ownership.
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However, at the Wednesday hearing presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, counsel for Lideal Mines Ltd and Etong Agrotech Nigeria Ltd, Ibrahim Idris, SAN, withdrew their opposition to the final forfeiture, leading the court to rule in favor of the EFCC.
The N2.7 billion, spread across four bank accounts belonging to the two defendants, was linked to illegal solid mineral mining operations.
Lideal Mines Ltd held N102.8 million in a Zenith Bank account, while Etong Agrotech Nigeria Ltd had accounts holding N1.29 billion in Zenith Bank, N1.19 billion in UBA, and N160.8 million in Globus Bank.
Justice Nwite adjourned the case to October 23, 2024, for further hearings on other funds associated with the defendants.
He reinforced the government’s efforts to curb illegal mining and ensure recovery of illicit financial gains.
