The Federal High Court in Abuja has delivered a decisive ruling in the fight against corruption, ordering the final forfeiture of two luxury properties linked to Aminu Garunbaba, an employee of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), to the Nigerian government.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who presided over the case, stated that Garunbaba failed to provide credible evidence showing that his real estate acquisitions were funded by legitimate earnings.
The confiscated properties include a four-bedroom terrace maisonette in Barumark Groove Estate, Abuja, bought under the name MYZ Venture, and a second property at No. 5 Lodge Road, Kano. Despite legal challenges, Garunbaba was unable to justify the origins of the funds used for these purchases.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which filed the case under reference number FHC/ABJ/CS/876/2021, argued that these properties were acquired using illicit funds. According to the EFCC, the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006 empowers the court to confiscate assets linked to fraudulent activities. A prior interim forfeiture order had been publicized, but no valid counterclaim was presented, leading to the final ruling.
Investigations revealed a deep-rooted fraud scheme within the FIRS, where Garunbaba and his associates manipulated the Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) system between 2017 and 2018. They fabricated travel claims to divert millions of naira, with funds systematically distributed among senior FIRS officials.
EFCC investigator Apagu Wudah testified that Garunbaba’s written confession, made in the presence of his legal representative, exposed a wide-scale embezzlement network. His statement detailed how over N269 million was misappropriated, implicating high-ranking officials such as Peter Hena (who received N145 million), Bello Auta (who took N95 million), and Aminu Sidi (who pocketed N29.3 million).
The funds were funneled through multiple channels, including a bureau de change operator, Wan Jafar Shehu, and directly into Garunbaba’s Stanbic IBTC Bank account (9301540597).
Further forensic analysis confirmed that Garunbaba purchased the Abuja property for N65 million via First Bank transfers to Barumark Investment and Development Company Ltd, while the Kano residence was bought for N39 million from Alakhillau Enterprises, owned by Adamu Muhammed. Investigators concluded that these transactions far exceeded his legitimate earnings as a public servant.
With the forfeiture now finalized, the Nigerian government has assumed ownership of the properties, reinforcing its zero-tolerance stance on financial crimes. The EFCC has hinted at further probes and legal proceedings as part of its ongoing efforts to eliminate corruption within government institutions.
