The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a final forfeiture order on assets linked to embattled businessman, Babagana Abba Dalori. The forfeited assets include a sum of N335 million, a hospital, and five fuel stations, all of which are to be transferred to the Nigerian government.
Presiding over the case, Justice Emeka Nwite gave the ruling after hearing a motion presented by Fadila Yusuf, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). According to Yusuf, all conditions previously set by the court for the forfeiture had been duly met.
Justice Nwite, after examining the submissions and affidavit evidence presented by the EFCC, concluded that the motion had merit. He said, “I have listened to the applicant’s counsel and carefully reviewed the affidavits in support. I am convinced this application is meritorious. It is hereby granted as requested.”
The EFCC had filed the motion, identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/1058/2024, under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006. The supporting affidavit, deposed by EFCC officer Tahiru Ahmed, maintained that the court had jurisdiction to decide on the matter.
Ahmed explained that an interim forfeiture order had already been granted on August 13, 2024, regarding the properties listed in the schedules attached to the EFCC’s application. The court had also instructed the agency to publish the forfeiture details in a national newspaper and on its official website, calling on any interested parties to appear and show cause why the properties should not be permanently seized by the government.
According to Ahmed, this order was fully executed, with publication made in Punch newspaper on September 4, 2024. Since then, no one had come forward to claim ownership or contest the forfeiture.
In support of the motion, the EFCC noted that the assets were allegedly proceeds of criminal activities. These include: a duplex at Bo/12340, Maiduguri, Borno State; residential apartments at Equilibrium Estate and Karsana District in Abuja; several plots of land in Dakibiyu, Ibrahim Taiwo Estate, Ado Karu, Gaube Farmland, Tafa LGA, and Maiduguri.
Additional properties forfeited include 10 hectares of land along Baga-Maimalari Barrack Road in Maiduguri meant for a proposed filling station, various land plots in Nasarawa and Niger States, and a four-bedroom terrace duplex located in Guzape District, Abuja.
Others are five filling stations across Borno and Kaduna States: one in Chabbal Village; another at Km 33 along Kaduna-Zaria Expressway; one at Mogaramti, Maiduguri-Kano Road; another at Konduga LGA, and one more on Sir Kashim Ibrahim Road, Maiduguri.
Also forfeited is the Galaxy Hospital in Bolori Layout, Maiduguri, and a private residence in Mararaba Gurku, Karu LGA.
The court also ordered the final forfeiture of balances in several accounts linked to Dalori and his associated companies. These include: Galaxy Transportation and Communication Service Ltd (N281,455,454); Galaxy Computing and Electronics Service Ltd (N6,977,195); Galaxy Energy International Concept Ltd (N1,240,588); Galaxy Transportation & Construction Services Ltd (N43,705,469.55), while others, including those bearing Dalori’s name, had zero balances.
It will be recalled that on September 3, 2019, Chronicles Reporters (then SaharaReporters) had reported that the EFCC re-arraigned Babagana Abba Dalori and his firm, Galaxy Transportation and Construction Services, before Justice Muawiyah Baba Idris at an Abuja High Court. They faced 12 fresh charges bordering on criminal breach of trust and obtaining by false pretense, amounting to N95.5 million.
According to the charges, Dalori allegedly obtained N95,530,000 from one Asiya Aliyu Bala in September 2017 under the guise of investing in a business involving the buying and selling of excavated sand, a claim the EFCC argued was false. Another charge claimed he dishonestly converted N15,954,000 belonging to Maryam Halilu Ahmed in October 2017 for personal use.
Dalori pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the EFCC prosecution team led by Maryam Aminu Ahmed urged the court to fix a hearing date. They also requested that Dalori be remanded in EFCC custody, citing ongoing investigations and concerns that he might interfere if held elsewhere. The court agreed and remanded him in EFCC detention pending a formal bail hearing.
Dalori’s legal troubles began after the EFCC uncovered an alleged scam where he collected approximately N7 billion from over 20,700 investors. He reportedly lured them with promises of extraordinarily high returns—some as high as 135% to 200%.
In a separate incident on June 20, 2019, he was remanded at Kuje Prison by Justice Venchak S. Gaba of the FCT High Court in Kwali for allegedly defrauding Abubakar Hajara through false pretenses.
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