The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a final forfeiture order for $163,592 allegedly obtained through an international impersonation and fraud scheme involving a United States-based law firm.

The forfeiture order was granted on Friday, November 6, 2026, by Justice M. S. Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, following an application by the anti-graft agency. EFCC prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, led the Commission’s legal team in the proceedings.

In granting the non-conviction-based forfeiture order, the court held that Akpasi Michael Oziegbe failed to establish legitimate ownership of the funds. The judge also found that he had illegally procured the services of the law firm to secure settlement money from a company of which he was not an employee.

The funds were traced to the domiciliary account of Micoz Bluelink Enterprise, operated by Oziegbe, and were allegedly obtained from a US-based company, Applied Industrial Technologies, through the impersonation of a former employee identified as Edward Campbell.

EFCC investigations revealed that Oziegbe allegedly impersonated Campbell, who had sustained an accident while on duty, to deceive the law firm of Steven J. Mandel & Co. into facilitating the release of settlement funds.

According to information obtained from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the law firm received a request for legal representation on June 27, 2022, from an individual identifying himself as Edward Campbell.

The individual claimed he was seeking to enforce a settlement agreement with his former employer, Applied Industrial Technologies, over a workplace accident, alleging that the company had failed to pay the agreed compensation.

The law firm was subsequently informed that Applied Industrial Technologies had issued a cheque for $165,157 in Campbell’s name.

The impersonator instructed the law firm to deduct its legal fees and transfer the balance into a bank account he provided.

Acting on the instructions, the law firm transferred $163,592 to the designated account on July 20, 2022. The money was subsequently credited to the domiciliary account of Micoz Bluelink Enterprise with United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.

However, on July 21, 2022, JP Morgan Chase Bank notified the law firm that the cheque was altered and fictitious. Further enquiries with Applied Industrial Technologies confirmed that the transaction was fraudulent.

The law firm subsequently reported the incident to the United States Secret Service and the FBI.

Further investigations showed that UBA had flagged the transaction as suspicious and initiated a verification process through its correspondent bank, Citi Bank. The bank later received confirmation of the fraudulent transaction alongside a refund request from JP Morgan Chase Bank on grounds of unjust enrichment.

UBA subsequently placed a lien on the funds, prompting Oziegbe to petition the EFCC over alleged misconduct by some bank officials.

However, the EFCC said its investigation established that the funds originated from the alleged fraudulent transaction involving the American law firm and were not proceeds of any legitimate supply transaction, as claimed by Oziegbe.

The Commission also stated that Oziegbe failed to provide relevant documentation to substantiate his claim that the money represented payment for materials supplied to a company in the United States.

The EFCC’s Extractive Industry Fraud Section (EIFS) commenced investigations in May 2024 following a petition from GAIA & Montgomery Legal, acting on behalf of Oziegbe. The petition alleged conspiracy, forgery and obtaining money under false pretences against some UBA officials.

During the investigation, the Commission obtained information and supporting documents from the FBI detailing the alleged fraudulent transaction and the circumstances surrounding the transfer.

As part of efforts to preserve the funds, the EFCC secured an order freezing the account on September 9, 2024, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1297/2024.

The Commission later obtained an interim forfeiture order on August 15, 2025, directing the forfeiture of the $163,592 and inviting interested parties to show cause why the funds should not be finally forfeited to the Law Firm of Steven J. Mandel & Co. through the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The November 6 ruling subsequently granted the final forfeiture.

The EFCC also disclosed that Oziegbe had earlier been declared wanted in connection with the alleged fraud.