The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, has ordered the final forfeiture of N3,444,000,000 and three properties linked to Salihu Nuhu Jamari, who served as Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)’s Gas and Power Investment Company Limited.
Justice J.O. Abdulmalik approved the final forfeiture, according to a statement issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday.
The court had earlier granted an interim forfeiture order, allowing any interested party to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
What They Said
According to the EFCC, the commission received a petition regarding the diversion of public funds in the NNPC.
- “Several investigative activities were carried out, during which it was discovered that Jamari, while serving as Managing Director of NGPIC, used his influence through his private companies—Cumulus Energy Limited and Pius and Phillips Petroleum Limited, where he is a director and signatory to the accounts—to receive kickbacks from three contractors awarded major projects by NNPCL,” the statement partly reads.
The properties identified include an uncompleted six-bedroom semi-detached duplex with boys’ quarters at Plot 3168, Asokoro District, Abuja; a two-bedroom flat in Block 2, Apartment A1, Block EFG, Osborne Phase II, Ikoyi, Lagos; and a restaurant located at Plot 102, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja.
- The EFCC approached the court, arguing that the funds were part of a broader case involving conspiracy, kickbacks, bribery, and money laundering among staff and contractors of the NNPC, in which Salihu Nuhu Jamari was prominently featured through a petition dated April 28, 2025.
The court had, on February 25, 2026, granted an interim forfeiture order, directing that the notice be published in a national newspaper to allow any interested party to show cause why the assets should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.
The order followed a motion on notice filed by EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, on March 17, 2026.
Justice Abdulmalik, after reviewing the application and supporting affidavit, held that it had merit and consequently ordered the final forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Backstory
Earlier this month, the EFCC handed over a total sum of N3.9 billion, recovered as proceeds of fraud, to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
- This development followed widespread investigations and litigation concerning fund management within the NNPCL.
- Earlier this year, the EFCC arraigned two suspects for their alleged involvement in a N600 million job fraud linked to the NNPCL.
- The suspects were arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on charges of fraud, obtaining money by false pretence, and forgery, in a case highlighting ongoing efforts to clamp down on job-related scams.
According to the EFCC, the suspects were arraigned on an amended six-count charge accusing them of defrauding a victim of N603,400,000 by falsely promising to secure her appointment as Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
The commission stated that the alleged offences contravene provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, as well as the Penal Code Law on forgery.
What you should know
Controversy has trailed fund accountability in the NNPCL in recent times.
- Last year, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the temporary freezing of four Jaiz Bank accounts linked to Mele Kyari, a former Group Managing Director of the NNPCL, over allegations of fraud.
- In July 2025, Nairametrics reported that the Senate said the NNPCL had yet to account for N210 trillion flagged in the 2017–2023 audit report by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation.
- The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Aliyu Wadada, made the disclosure during a resumed hearing on the audit report reviewing the spending of MDAs.
Wadada clarified that the Senate did not accuse the NNPCL of theft but was demanding accountability for the N210 trillion flagged in the audit, in line with its oversight responsibility to ensure transparency.
