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Appeal Court affirms final forfeiture of N293.9m, properties linked to retired general
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The Court of Appeal in Lagos has affirmed the final forfeiture of N293.97 million, several properties and investment assets linked to a retired Major-General, Emmanuel Atewe, to the federal government.
In a unanimous judgement delivered on Wednesday, Justice Boloukuromo Ugo dismissed Mr Atewe’s appeal against the judgement of the Federal High Court in Lagos, which had ordered the final forfeiture of the assets following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The appellate court upheld the judgement of a trial judge Chukwujekwu Aneke, holding that the appeal lacked merit.
The assets include N293.97 million, 30,000 MTN-linked units in Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited and several properties in Abuja and Bayelsa State.
They include plots of land along the Outer Northern Expressway, Jahi, Sabon Lugbe, Kuje, Gaube Farmland Extension II Layout and Sector Centre B Layout, all in Abuja, as well as a commercial property in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The EFCC stated that its investigation linked the assets to funds allegedly diverted from money released for the operations of the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield.
The commission alleged that about N8.537 billion released to the task force was diverted through a network of companies and individuals acting as proxies.
According to the EFCC, billions of naira were transferred to companies for services that were never rendered, while portions of the funds were later used to acquire assets allegedly linked to Mr Atewe through companies associated with him.
The case formed part of a wider fraud investigation involving the alleged diversion of funds meant for Operation Pulo Shield.
The investigation also led to the prosecution of former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, and others.
The EFCC specifically noted that N297 million traced to Cisco Nobots Limited was used in a property transaction in Port Harcourt, from which N290 million was later recovered by the commission.
The Federal High Court initially granted an interim forfeiture order over the assets. It later made the order final after finding that Mr Atewe had failed to satisfactorily explain their legitimate source.
It was that decision that Mr Atewe challenged before the Court of Appeal.
He argued, among other things, that the forfeiture proceedings were incompetent because he was entitled to the protection provided under Section 123 of the Armed Forces Act.
He also argued that the proceedings should not have commenced while criminal charges against him were pending and that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the EFCC’s application.
The Court of Appeal, however, rejected the arguments.
On the protection under Section 123 of the Armed Forces Act, the court held that the provision did not apply to Mr Atewe because he was a retired military officer when the forfeiture proceedings were instituted.
The court noted that Mr Atewe had admitted his retirement in an affidavit filed before the trial court and held that the statutory protection applied only to serving members of the Armed Forces.
The appellate court also held that Mr Atewe failed to sufficiently demonstrate how he legitimately acquired the assets.
It said his explanations, which referred to honoraria, did not establish a lawful source for the assets.
The court further rejected his argument that the forfeiture proceedings amounted to an abuse of court process because they were instituted while his money laundering trial was pending.
It stated that the commencement of civil forfeiture proceedings during the pendency of criminal proceedings did not, in itself, constitute an abuse of judicial process.
The Court of Appeal consequently dismissed the appeal and affirmed the lower court’s order for the final forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government.
News
After Taking Cocktail Of Drugs young Saudi Arabia prince found dead in London hotel
A young Saudi prince was found dead in a luxury London hotel after investigators concluded he had consumed a combination of alcohol, GHB and other substances months after undergoing treatment for addiction.
Abdullah bin Fahad bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Jalawi al Saud was discovered dead inside his £600-a-night room at the Marriott Hotel in Kensington, West London, on November 25 last year after consuming alcohol at almost three times the legal drink-drive limit alongside the party drug GHB.
An inquest held at the Inner West London Coroner’s Court heard that the 29-year-old royal had checked into the hotel on November 19 for a planned one-week stay.
CCTV footage presented during the hearing showed him leaving the hotel to smoke a cigarette on the evening before he was found dead.
The court was told that a cleaner later entered his locked fifth-floor room and found him fully dressed on the bathroom floor.
Emergency responders and hotel security were alerted immediately, but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Evidence presented at the inquest showed that toxicology tests recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 222mg per 100ml, significantly above the legal drink-drive limit of 80mg and within a level capable of causing a coma.
The report also detected potentially fatal concentrations of Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), commonly referred to as a party drug.
Investigators further found traces of cannabis, the anti-anxiety medication alprazolam, widely known as Xanax, at a recreational dose, along with other anti-anxiety drugs at therapeutic levels.
The hearing further established that the prince had been battling alcohol dependence and misuse of Xanax before his death.
Court records showed that he had received inpatient treatment in August last year at the Priory Clinic in Roehampton, south-west London, where residential care can cost up to £35,000 per week.
During his admission, he underwent detoxification from alcohol, benzodiazepines and the anti-anxiety medication Pregabalin.
Consultant psychiatrist Dr Victoria Chamorro said he had “engaged well” and the detox had “proceeded without physical side effects.”
(The Independent UK)
News
20-year-old woman reportedly pours hot water on her pregnant co-wife in Bauchi, newborn baby d!es
The Bauchi State Police Command has nabbed a 20-year-old woman for allegedly pouring boiling water on her pregnant co-wife, leading to the d3ath of the baby.
The incident occurred on July 17, 2026 in Daba Village, Bauchi Local Government Area during a domestic altercation.
The spokesperson for the command, SP Nafiu Habib, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, July 23, 2026 said the suspect, Rabi Abubakar, was arrested for alleged infanticide and causing grievous hurt.
According to the PPRO, the victim was subsequently rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, for treatment.
Habib said that while receiving treatment and despite sustaining severe burns, the victim gave birth to a baby boy on July 19.
The newborn, who reportedly suffered severe burn injuries, d!ed the same day.
The victim, however, is said to be stable and responding to treatment.
“Operatives of the ‘C’ Division, Tafawa Balewa Estate, Bauchi have arrested one Rabi Abubakar ‘f’ 20-years-old of Daba Village, Bauchi LGA, in connection with an incident of Infanticide and Causing Grievous Hurt,” the statement read.
“In a report received on 22nd July 2026 at about 0800hrs from the Officer In-Charge, Dabe Police Outstation, Soro Division, it was alleged that on 17th July, 2026 at about 0730hrs, the suspect poured boiled water on her 30-years-old co-wife, of the same address, during a domestic altercation.
“Following the incident, the victim was rushed to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi, for medical treatment.
“While on admission, and despite being heavily pregnant at the time of the assault, the victim gave birth to a baby boy on 19th July, 2026.
“Unfortunately, the newborn had severe burn injuries and died on the same day. The victim is currently stable and responding to treatment.
“Upon receipt of the report, police operatives immediately visited the scene. The suspect was subsequently traced, arrested, and during preliminary interrogation, she voluntarily confessed to the commission of the offence.
“The suspect is currently in custody and the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Bauchi for discreet investigation and prosecution.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, mni, psc (+), condemns the act in strong terms and assures members of the public that the Command will ensure diligent prosecution of the matter.
“He further urges citizens to embrace peaceful resolution of disputes and to report cases of domestic violence to the Police for prompt intervention.”
News
BREAKING: Despite constitutional limit, President Donald Trump Declares For Third Term Bid with ‘Trump 2028’
President Donald Trump has ignited fresh debate after appearing to float the idea of running for a third term in office, a move that would directly challenge the U.S. Constitution’s two-term limit for presidents.
In a video circulating online, Trump stood at a podium and declared that he had “won election three times,” claiming the second victory was “rigged” but asserting his intention to run again.
The president, who is currently serving his second non-consecutive term after defeating the Democratic candidate in the 2024 election, told the audience he plans to seek another stint in the White House in 2028.
“I am pleased to announce my intention to run for a fourth term as president of the United States,” Trump said in the clip, later correcting the framing to emphasize his electoral success. “I won three times and I am going to do it again.
I am good at running president.”Campaigns & Elections Trump was seen wearing a red “Trump 2028” cap during the appearance, a visual that immediately fueled speculation and social media buzz about his future political plans. While the remarks carried a light-hearted tone and appeared to be delivered in jest, they quickly drew attention to the legal barriers standing in the way of any such bid.
The U.S. Constitution’s 22nd Amendment strictly limits any individual to being elected president no more than twice. Ratified in 1951, Section 1 of the amendment states: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.”
Trump served his first term from 2017 to 2021. After losing his re-election bid in 2020, he made a successful comeback in 2024 and was inaugurated for a second term in January 2025. A run in 2028 would represent an unprecedented third term.
Supporters of the president have occasionally floated the idea of repealing or modifying the 22nd Amendment to allow Trump another term, citing his enduring popularity within the Republican base. However, any such change would require a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states — a high bar that remains politically unlikely in the current climate.
As of now, the White House has not issued a formal clarification on whether the comments were purely humorous or carried any deeper strategic message. Trump’s history of provocative statements has often blurred the line between jest and serious political signaling, keeping both allies and opponents guessing.
The video has already generated widespread reactions, with critics warning against undermining constitutional norms and supporters praising what they see as Trump’s signature defiance and showmanship. Whether the “Trump 2028” cap becomes a campaign staple or remains a one-off gag may become clearer in the months ahead.
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