The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of N17,100,595.40 to the Federal Government after the money was linked to an alleged romance fraud scheme currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi gave the order on Monday, June 1, 2026, following an application filed by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 through its counsel, C.C. Okezie.

A statement by the EFCC said the funds, domiciled in an Access Bank account, are linked to Ifeanyi Alele David, who is being investigated by the anti-graft agency over alleged romance scam activities and related offences.

The court had earlier, on February 26, 2026, granted an interim forfeiture of the money and directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper to allow any interested party to show cause why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

During proceedings for the final forfeiture, Okezie told the court that the Commission complied with the directive by publishing the interim forfeiture notice in The Punch newspaper on April 10, 2026.

She further informed the court that no individual or organisation came forward within the stipulated period to challenge the forfeiture.

The EFCC’s application was supported by an affidavit deposed to by one of its operatives, Samson Aguma, who outlined the outcome of investigations conducted by the Commission.

According to the affidavit, the EFCC received a petition from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), alleging that David was involved in a romance scam linked to the death of a United States citizen.

Aguma said a victim of the alleged romance scam died by suicide in a hotel room in Denver, Colorado, United States, on September 15, 2021.

According to him, investigators who recovered the victim’s mobile phone after the incident discovered multiple messages exchanged with an individual identified as “Garry Micheal” on the Google Hangouts platform.

Investigators said the suspect allegedly continued to solicit money from the victim using different fabricated stories. He also requested funds to secure his release from prison and enable him to travel back to the United States.

“The suspect repeatedly solicited funds from the victim under various false pretences, including requests for money to secure his release from prison and facilitate his return to the United States,” the statement said.

According to the affidavit, the suspect allegedly asked the victim for an additional $60,000 on the day she died, even after she had reportedly informed him of her severe financial difficulties and lack of funds.

The FBI’s investigation further revealed that the victim sent approximately $154,500 between August 30 and September 13, 2021, through various channels connected to the alleged romance scam.

Aguma told the court that forensic investigations traced email accounts, internet protocol (IP) addresses, telephone records and an Apple iCloud account linked to the alleged romance fraud activities to David in Nigeria.

He added that the N17,100,595.40 found in David’s Access Bank account was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and part of the funds generated from the alleged scam.

After reviewing the evidence and submissions presented by the EFCC, Justice Owoeye held that the application had merit and subsequently ordered the final forfeiture of the N17.1 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have intercepted a suspected member of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group who allegedly fled a terrorist enclave following recent military airstrikes in Borno State.

The development was disclosed by a security analyst and counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, in a post shared via his X handle.

According to military sources cited in the report, the suspect, identified as Ahmad Sheriff, 27, was intercepted at about 10:12 a.m. on May 31 during a patrol along the Kukawa–Cross Kauwa axis in Kukawa Local Government Area of the state.

The sources said the suspect was travelling with two children when he was apprehended by troops conducting routine security operations in the area.

Preliminary interrogation reportedly revealed that the suspect fled from Kangarawa, a known terrorist enclave, following sustained military airstrikes targeting the area.

The suspect allegedly told investigators that he escaped alongside 17 other individuals but became separated from the group after they encountered armed terrorists while moving through the bush.

Military authorities said items recovered from the suspect included a smartphone, 43 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, a solar panel, a power bank, a pair of sunglasses, a mosquito net, clothing materials and N48,000 in cash.

Further investigations indicated that the suspect had spent about seven years with the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group.

The sources added that the suspect, a native of Doron Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area, is currently in military custody for further profiling and investigation.

The interception comes amid intensified military offensives across the Lake Chad region, where troops have sustained coordinated ground and air operations aimed at dismantling terrorist enclaves and degrading the operational capabilities of insurgent groups.

Military authorities said troops remain vigilant and committed to ongoing counterterrorism operations across the North-East theatre.

Following operations carried out on May 31, 2026, the Kaduna State Police Command said it has recovered 245 stolen cattle after foiling two separate cattle rustling and kidnapping attempts in Igabi and Kudan local government areas of the state.

The operation, which was carried out by police personnel, local vigilantes and members of the community, trailed the suspects while alerting neighbouring communities and mounting intense pressure on the bandits.

In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, he said bandits in the early hours of Sunday invaded a Fulani settlement on the outskirts of Rubu Village in Igabi LGA, where they tied up three cattle rearers and several guards before making away with a large number of cattle.

According to the statement, the incident was reported by the chairman of Miyetti Allah in Igabi LGA, prompting the Divisional Police Officer of Rigachikun Division to mobilise police operatives alongside Miyetti Allah vigilantes and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force for a rescue operation.

“Unable to withstand the pursuit, the bandits abandoned the stolen cattle and their captives and fled into the bush. Over 200 cattle were recovered unharmed, while efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects are ongoing,” the statement said.

In a related development, the police said 45 additional cattle were recovered during another operation in Hunkuyi.

The command disclosed that, following a report of cattle rustling, the DPO of Hunkuyi Division launched an investigation and surveillance operation which led to credible intelligence indicating that the stolen cattle had been hidden in a bush at Hawan Mai Mashi along the Zaria–Kano Expressway.

According to the statement, a combined team of police operatives and personnel of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service was deployed to the area.

“On sighting the team, the armed bandits opened fire. The operatives responded with superior firepower, forcing the bandits to flee with suspected gunshot injuries and abandon all 45 cattle,” Hassan stated.

The police spokesman added that investigations were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and dismantle the criminal network behind the attacks.

He quoted the State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, as commending the collaboration between the police, Miyetti Allah vigilantes, the Civilian Joint Task Force, the Kaduna State Vigilance Service and community members, describing the successful operations as evidence of the effectiveness of intelligence-driven and community-based policing.

Muhammad urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to aid ongoing efforts to combat criminal activities across the state.

He also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives, property and livestock throughout Kaduna State.

Kaduna is among the North-West states most affected by cattle rustling, banditry and kidnapping, crimes that have disrupted farming and livestock activities and displaced thousands of residents from rural communities over the years.

The state government and security agencies have repeatedly launched joint security operations targeting criminal hideouts in flashpoint local government areas, including Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun, Kachia, Kajuru and parts of the Kaduna–Abuja and Kaduna–Kano corridors.