Members of the late General Sani Abacha's family attempted to stop the Federal Government from reopening the criminal forfeiture proceedings against the former head of state, but the Supreme Court of Nigeria dismissed their appeal on Friday in Abuja.

The recent government initiative to reopen the fraud investigation is directed at a few family members who are accused of participating in the looting of the national coffers under Abacha's rule.

The Supreme Court's Justice Emmanuel Agim dismissed the case brought before the Supreme Court in his ruling for lack of merit and substance.

The Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal had previously supported the Federal Government's right to reopen criminal forfeiture proceedings against the family, and the Supreme Court upheld those rulings.

Mohammed, the eldest surviving son of the late Gen. Abacha, and his brother Abba (on their own behalf and on behalf of Gen. Abacha's family) filed the appeal, with the reference number SC/641/2013.

Listed as respondents are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), DCP P. Y. Hana (Chairman, Special Investigation Panel), the National Security Adviser (NSS), and Magistrate Sonja Nachbaur (of the Principality of Liechtenstein).

Details later.