Justice Yellim Bogoro of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has ordered the interim forfeiture of the sum of $150,000.00 USD linked to one Emmanuel Okoh, Director, Vetifly Global Inc.
Justice Bogoro ordered the forfeiture of the money following a motion ex parte filed and argued by Barrister A. M. Dambuwa, a lawyer with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Moving the application for the interim forfeiture of the money, Dambuwa stated that the petitioner, sometime in February, 2022, invested the sum of $1,500,000.00 USD in the aviation business of Vetifly Global Inc. Adding that the parties agreed that Return on Investment (ROI) would be 100 percent of the investment sum, which would be paid exactly 365 calendar days from the date of issuance.
He also told the court that Okoh, however, reneged on the terms of agreement and also travelled out of the country, with the investment sum of $1.5m.
According to him, “ All efforts by the petitioner to reach Okoh were unsuccessful, hence he approached the EFCC.
“Investigation conducted on the “Aircraft Service Agreement” between Vetifly Limited and Zejet Limited led to the invitation of the Managing Director of the Xejet Limited, and one Emmanuel Ayuba Iza, who reported and volunteered a statement.
“In his statement to the Commission, Iza said that Okoh needed Air cargo and he approached Xejet Limited for a partnership through a letter written in July, 2021 for the purpose of cargo air service.
“An agreement named “Aircraft Services Agreement” was later executed between Vetifly Limited and Xejet Limited.
“The aircraft service agreement between Emmanuel Okoh and Xejet Limited is to the effect that Vetifly Limited will provide funding for an air cargo service operation while the Xejet Limited is to provide cargo aircraft and handle the regulatory, operation and technical aspect of the service.
“On March 2, 2022, the sum of $1,499,990.00 One Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety Dollars) was lodged by one REMX Capital Limited belonging to Vetifly Limited.
“The lodgement made to the First Bank account of Vetifly Limited on March 2, 2022 ( the sum of $1,499,990.00 (One Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred a Ninety Dollars) is in correlation with the Swift document submitted by the petitioner.”
He, therefore, prayed the court to grant the application seeking an interim forfeiture of the property, which is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
In her ruling, Justice Bogoro granted the application, while also directed the EFCC to publish the interim order in a national newspaper for any interested party to show cause why the final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The Judge thereafter adjourned the matter to February 11, 2026 for a report of compliance.
