Justice Daniel Osiagor of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has ordered interim forfeiture of 43 vehicles and six motorcycles allegedly used in trafficking 13, 016 kilograms of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
Justice Osiagor made the forfeiture order on Wednesday 4 February 2026 while granting a motion Ex parte filed by Barrister Buhari S. Abdullahi, the head of legal/prosecution department of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos State command.
In praying the court to grant the motion Ex parte marked FHC/L/MISC/64/2026, Barrister Buhari, the application for the interim forfeiture of the 46 vehicles and six motorcycles was pursuant to Sections 44(2)( b), 6 (6)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended); and Sections 3 (1)(a)(b)& (3)(1)(a) & 41 (b)(iv) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 LFN 2004 (As Amended); Sections 4 (b)(c) 7, 8(a) 9(1)(3)(b) & 4, 10 (1) and 12 of the Proceeds of Crimes Recovery and Management Act 2022 and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
He further told the court that the motion Ex parte was supported with 24 paragraphs affidavit deposed to by one Abdulkareem Abdullahi, a Deputy Superintendent of Narcotics, of NDLEA, in charge of Proceeds of Crime Management Unit and Officer in charge of Investigation Team at Lagos Strategic Command.
The NDLEA’s head of legal/prosecution department further told the court that parts of the grounds for praying forfeiture orders include: “The vehicles sought to be preserved and attached was used as an instrumentality for the concealment, transportation, distribution, dealing and financing of drug offence.
“Investigation into the said properties sought to be preserved and attached revealed to have been used purposely as an instrumentalities for committing drug of fences.
“That continued keeping of the vehicles will cause their decay, depreciation in value and burdensome to the Applicant.
“That since the seizure of the vehicles no one has ever come to claim the vehicles and the drugs recovered in them. And that the vehicles being instrumentalities used in the commission of drug offence are subject to forfeiture.
“That no proprietary right exist in the vehicles and motorcycles in favour of the drug traffickers/suspects who are at large.”
In granting the interim forfeiture attachment/order, Justice Osiagor after listening to the lawyer submission and perused through all the documentary exhibits, held that: “the application has merit and same is granted”.
The judge however directed NDLEA to advertise the Interim forfeiture order in a widely circulating National Newspaper for a period of fourteen (14) days, as such publication would constitute sufficient Notice for third party claim and members of the General Public’s claim.
