By Habeeb Ibrahim
A UK court has ordered the forfeiture of a £1 million property linked to Abigail Katung, the Lord Mayor of Leeds and wife of Nigerian Senator Sunday Katung.
Justice Jay ruled that the property was funded with suspicious money traced to Nigeria and was recoverable under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
In 2015, Mrs. Katung paid £400,000 as deposit for the property, previously owned by convicted money launderer Mansoor Hussain. She admitted in court that the funds were moved through Nigeria’s black market due to forex restrictions and partly came from her husband’s ₦120 million loan.
However, the court found her documents insufficient and her explanations inconsistent. The judge said her actions were aimed at bypassing Nigerian forex laws.
The court ruled the deposit would not be refunded. While she was not found to have knowingly engaged in criminal activity, the UK’s National Crime Agency will now take over the property and may seek further remedies.
