Lagos Lawyer Denies Link to Army General’s Multi-Billion Naira Asset Forfeiture

Wale Igbintade

A Lagos-based lawyer and businessman, Mr. Kayode Oladipupo Filani, has dismissed media reports linking him to the recent court-ordered forfeiture of assets traced to former Director of Nigerian Army Properties, Major General Mohammed Umar (rtd).

Filani stressed that neither he nor any of his companies was mentioned in the proceedings, questioning how his name became associated with widely circulated reports.

On August 26, 2025, Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court granted a final forfeiture order on assets traced to Umar. 

The properties included 26 companies and shares allegedly acquired by the retired Army General.

The order followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which told the court that 245,568,137 shares were purchased with proceeds of unlawful activities during Umar’s tenure as head of the Army’s property company.

In granting the application, Justice Dipeolu held that the EFCC had proved its case and ordered the shares permanently forfeited to the Federal Government, in favour of Nigerian Army Properties Limited.

Filani, however, said court records available to him showed that none of the listed firms belonged to him and that his name was absent from all official documents.

Reacting to the publications, he said “My name was not mentioned, so I wonder why it had to be smuggled in. I remain unshaken because God is on His throne, and whoever masterminded the inclusion of my name will not go unpunished. I do not own any shares in any of the listed companies. It was simply a failed attempt to malign my reputation.”