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By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the final forfeiture of $163,592 traced to an alleged international fraud scheme involving a United States-based law firm and a Nigerian businessman, Akpasi Michael Oziegbe.
Justice M.S. Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, granted the forfeiture order on Friday, November 6, 2026, following an application by the anti-graft agency.
The EFCC’s prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, led the commission’s legal team in securing the order.
In granting the non-conviction-based forfeiture, the court held that Oziegbe had failed to establish ownership of the funds. Justice Liman also found that he had illegally procured the services of the law firm to obtain a settlement payment from a company of which he was not an employee.
The $163,592 was traced to the domiciliary account of Micoz Bluelink Enterprise, operated by Oziegbe, at United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.
According to the EFCC, the money originated from a fraudulent transaction involving Applied Industrial Technologies, a US-based company, and the law firm of Steven J. Mandel & Co.
Investigations revealed that Oziegbe allegedly impersonated Edward Campbell, a former employee of Applied Industrial Technologies who had sustained an accident while on duty, to deceive the law firm into facilitating the release of settlement funds.
Information obtained from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) showed that the law firm received a request for legal representation on June 27, 2022, from an individual identifying himself as Campbell.
The impersonator claimed he was seeking to enforce a settlement agreement with his former employer over a workplace accident, alleging that the company had failed to pay the agreed compensation.
Following the request, the law firm was informed that Applied Industrial Technologies had issued a cheque for $165,157 on behalf of Campbell.
The individual subsequently instructed the law firm to deduct its legal fees and transfer the balance to bank account details he provided.
Acting on the instructions, the law firm transferred $163,592 to the designated account on July 20, 2022. The money was subsequently credited to the domiciliary account of Micoz Bluelink Enterprise with UBA.
However, on July 21, 2022, JP Morgan Chase Bank notified the law firm that the cheque was altered and fictitious. The law firm then contacted Applied Industrial Technologies and discovered that the purported settlement transaction was fraudulent.
The law firm reported the incident to the United States Secret Service and the FBI.
Further investigations showed that UBA had flagged the inflow as suspicious and initiated a reconfirmation process through its correspondent bank, Citibank.
The bank subsequently received communication confirming the fraudulent nature of the transaction, alongside a refund request from JP Morgan Chase Bank on the grounds of unjust enrichment.
UBA thereafter placed a lien on the funds, prompting Oziegbe to petition the EFCC over alleged misconduct by some bank officials.
However, the EFCC said its investigation established that the money came from the alleged fraudulent transaction involving the American law firm and was not proceeds of any legitimate supply transaction, as claimed by Oziegbe.
The commission also said Oziegbe failed to provide relevant documents to support his claim that the money represented payment for materials supplied to the United States.
The EFCC’s Extractive Industry Fraud Section (EIFS) began investigating the matter after receiving a petition in May 2024 from GAIA & Montgomery Legal on behalf of Oziegbe.
The petition alleged conspiracy, forgery and obtaining money under false pretences against some UBA officials.
During the investigation, the commission obtained information and supporting documents from the FBI detailing the transaction and the circumstances surrounding the transfer.
To prevent the funds from being dissipated, the EFCC secured an order freezing the account on September 9, 2024, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1297/2024.
The commission later obtained an interim forfeiture order on August 15, 2025, directing the forfeiture of the $163,592 and inviting interested parties to show cause why the money should not be finally forfeited to the Law Firm of Steven J. Mandel & Co. through the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The latest ruling grants the final forfeiture sought by the EFCC.
The commission had earlier declared Oziegbe wanted in connection with the alleged fraud.
English (US) ·