𝗕𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗜/𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗜: 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗢𝗳 𝗡150 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗼 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝘁𝘂 𝗜𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗞𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮, 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of N150 million linked to Nicholas Mutu, the member representing Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency of Delta State in the House of Representatives, to the Federal Government over alleged proceeds of corruption.

The judgment, delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which argued that the money constituted proceeds of unlawful activities.

According to the anti-graft agency, the N150 million was part of funds allegedly received by Mutu as kickbacks from Starline Consultancy Services, a consultant to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), while he served as Chairman of the House Committee on the NDDC.

The EFCC alleged that its investigation uncovered total kickback payments of about N400.16 million, which were reportedly channelled through the accounts of Airworld Technologies Ltd and Oyien Homes Ltd, companies in which Mutu is said to be a director and majority shareholder.

Investigators further claimed that the companies' other shareholders and directors include members of the lawmaker's immediate family.

According to the commission, the consultant secured the intervention of the House Committee in recovering debts owed to the NDDC by oil and gas companies operating in the Niger Delta. Following the intervention, more than N100 billion was reportedly recovered for the commission, after which part of the consultant's professional fees was allegedly paid to companies linked to Mutu as kickbacks.

The EFCC also alleged that Mutu later arranged for the consultant to issue a subcontract to Airworld Technologies Ltd to justify the payments, but investigators said the consultant admitted the subcontract was merely a cover and that no actual work was carried out.

Although Mutu refunded N150 million during the investigation, the commission said he later argued that the refund was not voluntary and insisted the payments were for legitimate business transactions.

Justice Abdulmalik held that no sufficient evidence was presented to challenge the interim forfeiture order earlier granted by the court and consequently ordered the permanent forfeiture of the funds to the Federal Government.

The EFCC also disclosed that it has appealed the earlier judgment that discharged and acquitted Mutu in a money laundering case arising from the same allegations.