The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the final forfeiture of a white Bentley Coupe and a blue Toyota Venza, both linked to suspected internet fraudster German Daniel Onoriede.
The presiding judge, Dehinde Dipeolu, issued the ruling on Monday after hearing a motion ex-parte brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa.
In addition to the forfeiture of the vehicles, the court also approved the interim forfeiture of $20,000, CFA 110,000, and a blue Nissan Almera car, pending further investigation and legal proceedings.
According to an affidavit sworn by EFCC investigator Bufa Okangbe, “EFCC conducted a sting operation on 14 August 2023, targeting suspected internet fraudsters in Ocean Bay Estate, Lekki, Lagos.” The affidavit noted that Mr German Daniel Onoriede evaded arrest during the operation, but operatives recovered the two luxury cars from his apartment.
Investigative documents revealed that the Bentley Coupe, with chassis number SCBFE63WXCC077771, was imported using proceeds from unlawful activities. Financial analysis further showed that Onoriede maintained multiple bank accounts—both naira and dollar—through which over ₦500 million was funneled between 2018 and 2023, all from suspected fraudulent sources.
The judge, Mr Dipeolu, “satisfied with the evidence presented, granted the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture of the vehicles.”
In a separate affidavit by another EFCC investigator, Solomon Usman, the court was informed about a 13 July 2025 sting operation conducted by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) along the Seme Border in Badagry, Lagos.
“The driver, upon sighting the operatives of the NSC, alighted from the vehicle and fled into a bush along Baba Pupa close to the Seme Border area of Lagos State, thereby evading arrest.”
The vehicle, a sky blue Nissan Almera with chassis number SJNFAANI6U0508962, was abandoned. EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, quoting the supporting affidavit, stated:
“The suspected fraudster abandoned his car. After a physical examination of the vehicle by the officers, a total sum of $20,000 (Twenty Thousand United States Dollars) and CFA 110,000 (One Hundred and Ten Thousand CFA) were discovered in the abandoned vehicle.”
EFCC’s counsel, Kofarnaisa, argued that the money and car were “reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities,” and urged the court to order their forfeiture.
The court granted the interim forfeiture and directed the EFCC to publish the order in any national newspaper to enable any interested party to appear and show cause why the assets should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
