Salihu Nuhu Jamari, a former managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited Gas and Power Investment Company Limited, has forfeited N3.4 billion and three properties to the Federal Government.
The forfeiture order was granted on Wednesday by a Federal High Court in Abuja following a motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and argued by its counsel, Martha Babatunde.
The assets include an uncompleted six-bedroom semi-detached duplex with boys’ quarters in Asokoro, Abuja; a two-bedroom flat in Ikoyi, Lagos; and a restaurant building in Lokogoma, Abuja — all traced to Jamari.
According to the EFCC, the assets were proceeds of unlawful activities linked to three major projects awarded by the NNPCL: the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project, the Abuja Independent Power Project, and the Benin Gas Plant Project.
The commission stated that Jamari exercised considerable control over these projects during his tenure as managing director of the gas and power investment subsidiary.
At the hearing, Jamari’s counsel, Maryam Abba, informed the court that her client had filed an affidavit of non-contestation, indicating that he did not oppose the forfeiture.
Babatunde also told the court that the EFCC complied with an earlier directive to publish a notice inviting interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be forfeited. She noted that the notice was published and no objections were received.
The EFCC explained that the application was brought under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, describing the process as a non-conviction-based asset forfeiture.
In an affidavit presented before the court, EFCC investigator Abdullahi Aminu said the case stemmed from a petition alleging conspiracy, bribery, kickbacks, and money laundering involving NNPCL officials and contractors, in which Jamari was named.
