By Kazeem Ugbodaga
A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the final forfeiture of two luxury vehicles, a white Bentley Coupe and a blue Toyota Venza, linked to a suspected internet fraudster, German Daniel Onoriede.
In a related development, the court also granted interim forfeiture of $20,000, CFA 110,000, and a Nissan Almera car believed to be associated with criminal activity.
Justice Dehinde Dipeolu issued the forfeiture orders on Friday, August 1, 2025, following motions filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by counsel H.U. Kofarnaisa.
In the affidavit backing the final forfeiture application, EFCC investigator Bufa Okangbe detailed how operatives of the Commission executed a sting operation on August 14, 2023, targeting suspected internet fraudsters residing in various apartments within Ocean Bay Estate, Lekki.
According to Okangbe, Onoriede managed to evade arrest during the operation, but the Commission recovered two of his vehicles-the Bentley Coupe and Toyota Venza, from his residence.
Documents retrieved by the EFCC reportedly confirmed the Bentley was purchased using proceeds from unlawful activities.
Further investigation uncovered that Onoriede maintained multiple bank accounts, including Naira and Dollar accounts, through which over ₦500 million was channelled between 2018 and 2023.
The funds were allegedly sourced from fraudulent schemes.
Convinced by the EFCC’s submission, Justice Dipeolu granted the final forfeiture of both vehicles to the Federal Government.
In a separate motion concerning the interim forfeiture, Kofarnaisa presented an affidavit deposed to by another EFCC operative, Solomon Usman.
Usman recounted an incident on July 13, 2025, in which Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) personnel intercepted a suspect at the Seme Border in the Badagry area of Lagos during a sting operation.
The suspect, driving a sky blue Nissan Almera with chassis number SJNFAANI6U0508962, abandoned the vehicle and fled into a nearby bush upon spotting the operatives.
A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed $20,000 and 110,000 CFA francs concealed inside.
The EFCC argued that both the cash and vehicle were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity and urged the court to grant an interim forfeiture order.
Justice Dipeolu approved the interim forfeiture and instructed the EFCC to publicise the order in a national newspaper, giving interested parties an opportunity to contest the forfeiture before it becomes final.
The case highlights the EFCC’s ongoing clampdown on cybercrime and illicit financial activities across Lagos and beyond.
Source; PM News
