Supreme Court Dismisses Ex-NNPC GMD, Yakubu’s Appeal Against Seizure Of $9.7m, £74,000

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Andrew Yakubu against the order of Federal High Court, Kano forfeiting the $9.7m and £74,000 allegedly found in his Kaduna house to the Federal Government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Yakubu before a Federal High Court in Abuja over the recovered money.

Yakubu had appealed the decision of the Court of Appeal in Kaduna, which upheld the forfeiture order made by the Federal High Court in Kano.

On Thursday, at the mention of the appeal, marked: SC/639/2018 his lawyer, Ahmad Raji SAN told the court that he filed a notice of discontinue on July 14, 2021.

Raji hinged his decision to withdraw the appeal on the fact that his client has another pending appeal before the Supreme Court, which challenges the propriety of Yakubu’s trial.

Lawyer to the EFCC, Muhammed Abubakar did not object to the decision by the appellant’s counsel to withdraw the appeal but sought an order of dismissal.

Ruling, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Mary Peter-Odili first, dismissed the application by EFCC for the dismissal of the appeal for lack of diligent prosecution and proceeded to dismiss the appeal in view of the appellant’s notice of discontinuance.