Nigeria, March 25 -- The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered a sum of $13 million traced to businesswoman and socialite Aisha Achimugu's firm to be permanently forfeited to the Nigerian government.

Delivering judgement on the forfeiture application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the judge, Emeka Nwite, held that both the company, Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd, and Ms Achimugu failed to prove that the money was legitimately earned.

Mr Nwite struck down the argument by Oceangate's lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, that the $13 million dollars came from gifts to Ms Achimugu and earnings from gas and oil-related contact.

The judge held that the claim could not be substantiated by material facts.

He also...