Contrary to a statement issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on August 26, 2025, regarding the final forfeiture of 246,305,544 shares worth N5 billion linked to Major General U.M.
Mohammed (rtd), court records show that the matter is still pending before Justice C.J. Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The EFCC had on April 29, 2025, filed an application seeking the final forfeiture of the shares listed in schedules “A, B and C” of suit no: FHC/L/MISC/404/25.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the assets were proceeds of unlawful activities of Mohammed, a former managing director of Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL).
On May 7, 2025, Justice Aneke granted an interim forfeiture order, which was subsequently published in Punch newspaper on July 9.
However, documents seen by this newspaper show that on July 29, Mohammed, through his legal team, Olalekan Ojo (SAN) & Co, filed an affidavit to show cause, asking the court to set aside the forfeiture request. The judge then adjourned the matter to October 8, 2025, for hearing.
Despite the adjournment, the EFCC went before vacation judge Justice Dipeolu, who on August 26, 2025, granted a final forfeiture order without considering the affidavit filed by the retired general.
Mohammed’s legal team has since filed a motion dated August 29, 2025, asking the court to set aside the judgment.
The lawyers argued that the EFCC failed to comply with the conditions precedent for hearing such matters during the Federal High Court’s annual vacation.
The defence further argued that the shares in dispute were acquired between September 3, 2007, and September 1, 2015, years before Mohammed was appointed managing director of NAPL on October 15, 2015.
Sources also pointed out that a similar case was previously filed by the EFCC at the Federal High Court in Abuja before Justice N.E. Maha in suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/857/2024. The case was struck out on April 8, 2025, for lack of diligent prosecution.
The petition against Mohammed was filed by his successor, Brigadier General Isah Doma (rtd), on November 7, 2021. Military sources allege that Doma, alongside some retired and serving officers, is behind a campaign to damage Mohammed’s reputation.
The retired general is said to be undergoing medical treatment following more than three years of detention by the Nigerian military.
