Asset tracing
Following funds and assets through accounts, companies and, where needed, jurisdictions.
Practice area
Recovery of Funds
Tracing, freezing and recovering what is owed — including across borders — for individuals and businesses who have been defrauded or left unpaid.
Overview
Speed and strategy decide how much comes back.
When money has been taken or withheld, the first weeks matter most. Assets move quickly, accounts are emptied, and property changes hands. We combine asset tracing, urgent court orders, civil recovery and — where appropriate — the leverage of criminal process to pursue funds effectively.
We are practical about outcomes: every step is weighed against the realistic prospect of turning a judgment or order into money actually returned to you.
Who we act for
- Individuals defrauded through investment, online or impersonation scams
- Businesses owed money by customers, distributors or partners
- Investors in failed or collapsed schemes
- Companies whose funds were diverted by staff, directors or agents
- Judgment creditors who have not been paid
- Foreign clients with claims against parties or assets in Nigeria
What we handle
How we recover
Freezing & preservation
Urgent freezing (Mareva) injunctions and preservation orders to stop assets disappearing.
Fraud recovery
Civil claims arising from fraud, breach of trust and diverted funds.
Debt & judgment enforcement
Writs of execution, garnishee proceedings against bank accounts, and charging orders over property.
Cross-border recovery
Registering and enforcing judgments across borders and coordinating with foreign counsel.
Corporate & partner disputes
Recovering value in shareholder, partnership and joint-venture disputes.
Petitions & agency engagement
Preparing well-evidenced petitions and engaging with the EFCC or Police where criminal process will genuinely help recovery.
Negotiated settlements
Structured repayment agreements secured by guarantees, consent judgments or security.
Insolvency options
Using winding-up and insolvency tools under CAMA 2020 where a debtor company will not pay.
Signs it’s time
When to call us
- You transferred money and the recipient has gone silent
- An investment platform has frozen withdrawals
- A debtor is selling or moving assets
- You hold a judgment that has not been paid
- Staff or a partner diverted company funds
- The money was sent abroad
The Nigerian framework
Recovery in Nigeria draws on civil claims (fraud, breach of contract, breach of trust and money had and received), urgent injunctions, and enforcement under the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act — including writs of execution and garnishee proceedings against bank accounts.
Where fraud is involved, asset-recovery powers under the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022 and the EFCC Act can run alongside civil action. Against companies that refuse to pay, the winding-up provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 can apply real pressure.
When money leaves Nigeria
Where funds have moved abroad, we work with mutual legal assistance channels, foreign freezing orders and the recognition of judgments, and coordinate with international counsel to trace and repatriate assets.
Foreign judgments may be registrable in Nigeria (and Nigerian judgments abroad) depending on the country concerned — we advise on the fastest available route.
How we work
A clear process, from first call to resolution.
Trace
Identify where the money and assets have gone, using documents, bank trails and investigations.
Secure
Move early to freeze and preserve assets before they disappear.
Pursue
Civil recovery, enforcement and, where useful, criminal leverage — often in parallel.
Recover
Turn judgments and orders into returned value, through enforcement or secured settlement.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can’t see your question? Ask us directly — a short, confidential conversation is the fastest way to clarity.
Is it too late if the money has left Nigeria?
Not necessarily. Cross-border tracing and recovery are possible, though speed matters — contact us as early as you can.
Can you freeze the other side’s account quickly?
Where the evidence supports it, an application for a freezing injunction can be made urgently and without notice to the other side, so that assets are preserved before they can be moved.
Should I report to the Police or the EFCC?
Often yes, but timing and content matter. A well-prepared petition can help recovery; a rushed one can complicate it. We advise on when criminal process will genuinely help.
Can criminal and civil routes run together?
Often yes. Used well, the combination increases pressure and the prospects of recovery.
I have a judgment but the debtor will not pay. What now?
Judgments can be enforced by attaching bank accounts (garnishee proceedings), seizing and selling assets under a writ of execution, or charging property. Against a company, winding-up proceedings may be available.
How long does recovery take?
It varies with the amount, the evidence and how hard the other side resists. Urgent orders can be obtained within days; full recovery can take longer. We give you a realistic timeline at the start.
What do you need from me to start?
An outline of what happened and any documents you have — transfer receipts, messages, contracts and account details. Avoid sharing sensitive detail over open channels until we are engaged.
Can you help if I live outside Nigeria?
Yes. We regularly act for clients abroad, with instructions and updates handled remotely.
Guides
Practical guides for this area
Free guide
Recovering a business debt: demands, negotiation and when to sue
A practical sequence for chasing unpaid invoices — from the first reminder to court action.
Read the guide Members guideEnforcing a judgment in Nigeria: your options
Winning is only half the job. The main tools for turning a Nigerian judgment into money actually paid.
Read the guide Free guideScammed or defrauded? What to do in the first 72 hours
Quick, practical steps that improve the chances of getting money back after fraud or a scam.
Read the guideInsights
Further reading
Recovery
Online investment scams in Nigeria: warning signs and what to do
How to recognise a fraudulent investment platform before you pay — and the steps that give you the…
Recovery
Asset recovery in Nigeria: how funds are legally traced and recovered
When money is taken or withheld, speed and strategy decide how much comes back. A look at tracing…
Money owed or taken? Let’s talk about recovering it.
Recovery rewards speed. The earlier we start tracing, the more we can secure.