Malik Yahya/
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of three landed properties and two vehicles allegedly acquired with proceeds of a ₦452 million fraud linked to businessman Akintayo Ebenezer Ogunleye and his firms.
Justice Yellim Bogoro made the order after granting a motion ex parte filed by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, and argued by its counsel, Barrister Justine Enang, a Chief Superintendent of Police.
The affected properties belong to Ogunleye and his companies, Bethsaida Investment Partners Limited and Hartfield Investment Limited, which are standing trial over multiple fraud-related charges.
The properties ordered forfeited include a mixed-use mass housing project in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; a landed property along Ayede Aloba Alapake Road, off Iwo Road, Idi-Omoh Ayede area of Egbeda Local Government Area, Oyo State; and two plots of land located at Plot 403 and 473, Uganda Street, Queens Estate, Karsana District, Gwarimpa, Abuja.
Also ordered forfeited are two vehicles: a Toyota Corolla with registration number JJJ 113JA and a Lexus saloon car (2000 model) with registration number KRD 842 GQ.
In his ruling, Justice Bogoro directed the PSFU to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper to allow any interested party to appear before the court and show cause why the properties should not be finally forfeited.
The judge held that the application was supported by sufficient material, including an affidavit sworn to by Inspector Tope Akelere of the PSFU, Ikoyi. He accordingly granted the motion dated December 8, 2025, “as prayed.”
“It is hereby ordered that an interim forfeiture of the landed properties specified in Schedule A of this motion, believed to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful acts, is granted in favour of the Nigeria Police Force through the Police Special Fraud Unit,” the court ruled.
Ogunleye and his companies are currently facing a 21-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, and fraud amounting to ₦452 million.
According to the prosecution, the defendant allegedly induced several victims to invest in real estate and online forex schemes between 2020 and 2023, with promises of high returns that never materialised.
Those listed as victims include Adetoro Afonja (₦75m), Olusola Kehinde Ogundiji (₦107m), Olumide Afolabi Fasugba (₦35m), Kanayo Christian Chigbo (₦25m), Victor Eyefia (₦50m), Ibukun Mayadenu (₦30m), Shopefoluwa Balogun (₦40m), and several others, with individual losses ranging from ₦120,000 to ₦50 million.
The alleged offences, according to the prosecution, contravene Sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and are punishable under Section 1(3)(a) of the Act.
Ogunleye has denied all the allegations and was earlier admitted to bail by the court.
Justice Bogoro adjourned further proceedings on the substantive trial and the application for final forfeiture of the properties to February 19, 2026.
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