A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary forfeiture of $49,700 found in the residence of Dr. Nura Ali, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Sokoto State. The amount, which is suspected to be proceeds from bribery, was uncovered during a search operation in Ali’s Kano residence. The case raises fresh concerns over corruption within the nation’s electoral system and could potentially signal a larger crackdown on high-ranking officials with alleged links to illicit financial activities.
The decision was made on Monday by Justice Emeka Nwite, who granted an ex-parte application brought before the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS). The motion was filed following intelligence reports implicating Ali in bribery activities while serving as the Sokoto REC in the 2023 general elections. The sum of money discovered, although small by some standards, is being treated with the utmost seriousness due to the suspicious circumstances surrounding its presence at Ali’s residence.
According to court documents, the money was allegedly received by Dr. Ali as a bribe, with the former INEC official reportedly disclosing that $150,000 was gifted to him by prominent political figures, including the former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, and Senator Aliyu Wamakko. Although Ali allegedly made these claims during an extra-judicial statement to DSS officials, the money, which was part of a larger cache of $150,000, could not be explained in relation to his official role. INEC does not pay its commissioners in foreign currencies, prompting officials to suspect that the money was part of unlawful activities tied to Ali’s electoral responsibilities.
During a court hearing on the matter, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, legal counsel for the FRN, stated that the recovery of the money occurred during a joint search operation involving the DSS and ICPC. “The alleged moveable property in question—$49,700—was found to be a bribe that Dr. Nura Ali received while in office as the Resident Electoral Commissioner,” Akponimisingha said, urging the court to approve the forfeiture of the funds as a temporary measure to protect taxpayers’ money and preserve integrity in the electoral process.
The request for the temporary forfeiture was made following a detailed examination of the alleged crime scene, including intelligence reports compiled by the DSS. The operation to search Ali’s residence in Kano was predicated on suspicions regarding his acceptance of bribes from various stakeholders in the electoral process.
Meanwhile, the applicant’s legal team sought a court order instructing the ICPC and DSS to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the alleged unlawful activities related to the $49,700, with a reporting deadline of 90 days. “This is not a step to seize the property permanently,” said Akponimisingha. “The intention is to prevent dissipation of the funds before proper investigation is concluded and before any legitimate ownership can be established.”
In the motion, the applicant also urged the court to publish a notice calling for any interested party to challenge the forfeiture. If no contesting evidence arises within the stipulated time, the sum could potentially be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The recovery of the funds has prompted concerns about the level of corruption at high levels of the electoral commission and has thrown the spotlight on the relationship between politicians and electoral officials. The legal representatives of Dr. Nura Ali have yet to formally challenge the claim, although, in a previous statement, Ali reportedly communicated his concerns to the DSS, asserting his right to retrieve the money. In official correspondence shared with security agencies, Ali requested the return of the funds, suggesting that they were part of a lawful donation from political leaders.
However, this has done little to calm public suspicion regarding the nature of the money, especially as the INEC’s official policy prohibits payments to commissioners in U.S. dollars. The $49,700 figure, significant yet not astronomical, is seen as part of a larger pattern of potential financial misconduct within Nigerian electoral operations.
Legal experts have also weighed in on the case, highlighting the need for transparent investigations into the financial activities of all public officers to curb corruption. “This case is indicative of a wider need to examine financial dealings within institutions that should be free from outside influence,” said civil rights lawyer, Abigail Osei. “The larger issue here is whether the financial oversight on high-ranking electoral officials is robust enough to detect and deter illegal financial activities.”
The court proceedings are likely to attract greater media attention, especially in the run-up to the 2025 general elections, which will further intensify concerns regarding electoral integrity in Nigeria. The ruling could set a precedent for future corruption investigations targeting officials within the INEC and other government bodies.
Dr. Nura Ali, the central figure in the bribery scandal, has yet to make any public comment on the matter. He will have the chance to defend his position at the next hearing, scheduled for January 30, 2025. The case is expected to see continued scrutiny, not just from legal institutions, but also from Nigerian citizens who are increasingly disillusioned by the endemic corruption within the country’s political systems.
