Lagos court orders final forfeiture of two Mercedes-Benz cars and four gadgets linked to convicted fraudster Ifeanyi Arinze

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of two luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicles and four electronic devices linked to convicted internet fraudster Ifeanyi Franklyn Arinze to the Federal Government, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, 9 November 2026.

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The ruling, delivered by Justice Yellim S. Bogoro, followed allegations that the properties were acquired through proceeds of fraudulent activities.

The forfeited vehicles comprise a white Mercedes-Benz GLE 53 AMG and a grey Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 AMG. The electronic devices include an orange iPhone 17 Pro Max, a silver Samsung Fold 7, a blue iPhone 13 and a silver iPad.

The EFCC disclosed the development in a statement issued by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday, 10 November.

According to the commission, the court had initially granted an interim forfeiture order on 17 July 2026, directing the agency to publish the notice in a national newspaper to allow interested individuals or organisations to challenge the proposed seizure.

The EFCC subsequently published the interim order in The Guardian newspaper on 16 September 2026.

At the hearing for final forfeiture, the commission’s counsel, C. C. Okezie, informed the court that the publication requirement had been fulfilled and that no individual or organisation had come forward to contest the application.

After reviewing the application and supporting affidavit evidence, Justice Bogoro granted the request and ordered that the properties be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The EFCC maintained that the assets were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the application, EFCC operative Buluebiere Karamo said the commission had received intelligence alleging that Arinze headed an internet fraud syndicate operating in Lagos.

Investigators alleged that Arinze used the identity ‘Tonya’ on iMessage to contact several victims in the United States and persuade them to create foreign financial accounts through platforms including Zelle, Apple Pay, PayPal, Cash App and Venmo.

The victims were allegedly instructed to transfer funds received through the accounts to a Chinese national identified as ‘Chinko Applepay’.

The EFCC claimed that the individual subsequently credited Arinze’s Kuda Bank account with the naira equivalent of the funds, after which Arinze distributed the money among other members of the alleged syndicate while retaining 10 per cent as commission.

An analysis of his Kuda Bank account reportedly showed total inflows of ₦2,149,495,381.42, approximately ₦2.15 billion, between August 2022 and February 2026.

Further investigations allegedly revealed that Arinze operated 49 Gmail accounts alongside several Facebook and Instagram accounts, which the commission said were used in the fraudulent activities.

The latest forfeiture proceedings follow an earlier criminal case involving Arinze.

The EFCC said he was arrested on 20 April 2024 during a sting operation at Remi Olowude Street, Lekki, Lagos, alongside several other individuals.

He was subsequently charged before the Federal High Court on two counts bordering on computer-related fraud.

According to the commission, Arinze pleaded guilty and was convicted on 5 June 2024 by Justice Aneke, who directed him to maintain good behaviour and refrain from further involvement in cyber-related offences.

However, the EFCC alleged that he subsequently breached the terms of the judgment by continuing to engage in money laundering and computer-related fraud after his conviction and payment of the option of a fine.

The commission said fresh intelligence prompted another investigation, during which the properties covered by the latest forfeiture application were allegedly traced to fraudulent activities committed after the earlier conviction.

The proceedings also highlight the role of Nigeria’s Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022 in efforts to recover assets suspected to have been acquired through unlawful activities.

Under the framework, courts can issue interim orders preserving assets while interested parties are given an opportunity to challenge their forfeiture. A final order may follow where the court is satisfied, on the applicable civil standard of proof, that the assets are connected to unlawful activities.

The process provides a legal route for recovering suspected criminal proceeds while allowing affected parties an opportunity to establish legitimate claims to the properties.

For the EFCC, the latest ruling represents another asset recovery development in its efforts to address internet-enabled financial crimes and money laundering.

The forfeiture of the luxury vehicles and electronic devices also underscores the financial scale of the transactions investigators attributed to the alleged syndicate.

With the final order now granted, the two Mercedes-Benz vehicles and four electronic devices are to be forfeited to the Federal Government, bringing the asset recovery proceedings over the listed properties to a conclusion.

Feature image suggestion: The two forfeited Mercedes-Benz vehicles, alongside photographs of the electronic devices released by the EFCC.

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Suggested image caption: The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of two Mercedes-Benz vehicles and four electronic devices linked to convicted internet fraudster Ifeanyi Franklyn Arinze.