Nigeria Court of Appeal upholds forfeiture of ex-General Atewe's assets

The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal unanimously affirmed the final forfeiture of assets belonging to retired Major General Emmanuel Jebe Atewe, dismissing his appeal against a May 2023 Federal High Court judgment. The forfeited portfolio, valued at roughly N293.97 million, includes cash, multiple parcels of land in Abuja and Bayelsa State, a 50‑hectare farm, and 30,000 MTN shares held through Stanbic IBTC Asset Management.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said the assets were acquired with proceeds from the alleged diversion of more than N8.5 billion earmarked for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to fund security operations in the Niger Delta. The appellate court rejected Atewe's arguments that Section 123 of the Armed Forces Act protected him and that civil forfeiture was improper while criminal charges were pending, ruling the provisions apply only to serving officers and that the forfeiture targets the assets, not the person.

The decision reinforces the EFCC’s authority to pursue civil forfeiture in high‑profile corruption cases and returns the seized properties and cash to the Federal Government.