# Court sets aside forfeiture order against ex-Warri refinery MD

> Court dismisses EFCC's asset forfeiture claim against ex-Warri refinery MD after finding evidence of lawful income.
- Title: Court sets aside forfeiture order against ex-Warri refinery MD
- Summary: Court dismisses EFCC's asset forfeiture claim against ex-Warri refinery MD after finding evidence of lawful income.
- Keywords: efcc, warri refinery, jimoh olasunkanmi yisawu, nnpc, forfeiture order, federal high court, lawful income, assets, nigerian national petroleum corporation, managing director, Premium Times Nigeria
- Source: Premium Times Nigeria — https://premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/923956-court-sets-aside-forfeiture-order-against-ex-warri-refinery-md.html
- Author: Ndidiamaka Ede
- Published: 2026-11-09T18:19:22+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: efcc, warri refinery, jimoh olasunkanmi yisawu, nnpc, forfeiture order, federal high court, lawful income, assets, nigerian national petroleum corporation, managing director, news, politics
## Court dismisses forfeiture order
Federal High Court in Abuja set aside interim forfeiture order against properties linked to ex-Warri refinery MD Jimoh Olasunkanmi Yisawu.
## EFCC failed to establish unlawful origin
Court ruled EFCC did not prove assets were proceeds of unlawful activities despite allegations of financial crimes.
## Yisawu's 32-year NNPC service
Yisawu served Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for 32 years from 1991 to 2023.
## Yisawu's refinery tenure
He was managing director of Warri refinery for about 10 months from November 2022 to September 2023.
## EFCC's allegations
EFCC claimed Yisawu's assets were disproportionate to his known income and linked to NNPC time.
## Yisawu's explanation
Yisawu said he bought Lagos properties through loans and lawful earnings between 2015 and 2020.
## Court accepted explanation
Judge Omotosho found Yisawu's evidence outweighed EFCC's and accepted his bank statements showing N1.5 billion transactions.
## Asset declaration
Court noted Yisawu had declared assets to Code of Conduct Bureau and bought treasury bills post-retirement.
## EFCC investigation start
EFCC began investigating Yisawu after receiving intelligence in 2024 about alleged financial crimes.
## Alleged $56 million repair fund
EFCC alleged $56 million was earmarked for Warri refinery quick repair in 2022 with Yisawu overseeing the project.
## Bureau de Change payments
EFCC accused Yisawu of paying $900,000 to two Bureau de Change operators between 2021 and 2025.
## Yisawu's defense
Yisawu denied wrongdoing and said he acquired properties before becoming refinery managing director.
## No complaints from contractors
Yisawu claimed neither NNPC, refinery, nor contractors complained about his project handling.
## Forfeiture proceedings separate
Forfeiture proceedings are separate from criminal trial against Yisawu for money laundering.
## Key takeaway

Federal High Court in Abuja set aside forfeiture order against Jimoh Olasunkanmi Yisawu's assets, ruling EFCC failed to prove they were proceeds of unlawful activities.