The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of N17,100,595.40 to the Federal Government, marking a significant step in the ongoing investigation into a transnational romance fraud scheme linked to Ifeanyi Alele David. The ruling, delivered on Monday, June 1, 2026, by Justice A.O. Owoeye, follows a legal process initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, represented by counsel C.C. Okezie. The funds, held in an Access Bank account, were declared proceeds of crime tied to a scam that allegedly led to the suicide of a United States citizen.
Justice Owoeye’s decision came after the EFCC complied with earlier court directives to publish the interim forfeiture notice in The Punch newspaper on April 10, 2026. No party responded within the stipulated period to contest the forfeiture, paving the way for the final order. The court had initially granted an interim forfeiture on February 26, 2026, allowing time for any interested party to present their case. The absence of objections strengthened the EFCC’s position and led to the conclusive judgment.
The case is rooted in a petition received by the EFCC from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which alleged that David was involved in a sophisticated romance scam that culminated in the tragic death of a victim in Denver, Colorado, on September 15, 2021. According to an affidavit deposed to by EFCC operative Samson Aguma, investigators recovered the victim’s mobile phone and discovered messages exchanged with a person identified as “Garry Micheal” on Google Hangouts. The suspect, believed to be David, allegedly used multiple fabricated stories to solicit money from the victim.
The FBI investigation revealed that the victim sent approximately $154,500 between August 30 and September 13, 2021, through various financial channels linked to the scam. Even after informing the suspect of her dire financial situation, she was asked for an additional $60,000 on the day she died. Forensic analysis traced email accounts, IP addresses, phone records, and an Apple iCloud account connected to the fraud to David’s location in Nigeria. The N17.1 million in his Access Bank account was thus deemed proceeds of unlawful activities.
The court found the EFCC’s evidence compelling and concluded that the application for final forfeiture was justified. Justice Owoeye’s ruling underscores Nigeria’s growing commitment to combating cybercrime and transnational fraud. The forfeiture of these funds sends a strong message to potential offenders and reinforces international cooperation in tackling digital scams. This case may set a precedent for future legal actions against romance fraudsters operating from Nigeria.
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