EFCC Secures Final Forfeiture Of $163,592 In US Law Firm Fraud Case

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a final forfeiture order over $163,592 fraudulently obtained through an impersonation scheme involving a United States-based company and law firm.

The forfeiture order was granted on Friday, 6th November 2026, by Justice M.S. Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja, following an application by the anti-graft agency.

The money was allegedly obtained by Akpasi Michael Oziegbe, who impersonated a former employee of US-based Applied Industrial Technologies to fraudulently secure the release of settlement funds through the law firm of Steven J. Mandel & Co.

EFCC prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN) led the Commission’s legal team in securing the order.

In his ruling, Justice Liman held that Oziegbe failed to establish a legitimate claim to the funds, noting that he had illegally engaged the services of the law firm to obtain settlement money from a company where he was not employed.

According to the EFCC, investigations revealed that Oziegbe impersonated one Edward Campbell, a former employee of Applied Industrial Technologies who reportedly sustained an accident while on duty.

Information obtained from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) showed that the law firm received a request for legal representation on 27th June 2022, from an individual claiming to be Campbell.

The impersonator allegedly told the lawyers that his former employer had failed to honour a settlement agreement arising from a workplace accident.

Following the request, the law firm was informed that Applied Industrial Technologies had issued a cheque of $165,157 as settlement payment on behalf of Campbell.

The individual subsequently instructed the lawyers to deduct their professional fees and transfer the balance into a bank account whose details he supplied.

Acting on the instructions, the law firm transferred $163,592 to the designated account on 20th July 2022. The funds were subsequently credited to the domiciliary account of Micoz Bluelink Enterprise, an entity operated by Oziegbe, with United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.

However, on 21st July 2022, JP Morgan Chase Bank notified the law firm that the cheque was altered and fictitious.

The lawyers subsequently contacted Applied Industrial Technologies and discovered that the purported settlement transaction was fraudulent. The incident was thereafter reported 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, Citibank.

After receiving confirmation that the transaction was fraudulent, alongside a refund request from JP Morgan Chase Bank on grounds of unjust enrichment, UBA reportedly placed a lien on the funds.

Oziegbe subsequently petitioned the EFCC, accusing some UBA officials of misconduct.

However, the Commission’s investigation established that the money originated from the alleged fraudulent transaction involving the American law firm and did not represent legitimate proceeds from any supply transaction, contrary to Oziegbe’s claim.

The EFCC also said Oziegbe failed to provide relevant documents to substantiate his assertion that the funds were payment for materials supplied to a United States-based entity.

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

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

prevent the funds from being dissipated, the Commission secured an order freezing the account on 9th September 2024, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1297/2024.

It subsequently obtained an interim forfeiture order on 15th August 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 latest ruling brings the forfeiture proceedings to a conclusion, with the court granting the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture.

The Commission had earlier declared Oziegbe wanted in connection with the alleged fraud.