Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has ruled for the final forfeiture of a sprawling 150,500-square-meter estate in Abuja, which includes 753 duplexes and apartments.
The ruling signifies the largest asset recovery by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since its inception in 2003.
Located on Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, the estate was forfeited to the federal government by a former high-ranking government official.
The seizure is part of the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to ensure that individuals engaged in corrupt practices do not benefit from their illicit gains.
The Commission based its case on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006, and Section 44 (2) B of the 199 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Justice Onwuegbuzie determined that the respondent failed to provide sufficient justification for retaining the property, which was deemed to have been acquired through unlawful activities.
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An interim forfeiture order was initially granted by Justice Onwuegbuzie on November 1, 2024, paving the way for this final ruling.
The EFCC is currently investigating the former official linked to the estate, highlighting the agency’s strategy of confiscating assets to disrupt the financial benefits of crime.
The EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has underscored the importance of asset recovery in the fight against corruption.
In recent discussions with members of the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-corruption, he emphasized that recovering illicit assets is crucial for dismantling the financial power of corrupt individuals.
“If you allow the corrupt or those that you are investigating to have access to the proceeds of their crime, they will fight you with it,” Olukoyede stated, reinforcing the Commission’s shift towards simultaneous asset tracing and investigation. This approach has proven effective in facilitating substantial recoveries.
The EFCC operates under a legal framework that prioritizes asset recovery, as outlined in the EFCC Establishment Act. The Act mandates the Commission to trace and attach the properties of any individual suspected of engaging in economic and financial crimes.
The successful forfeiture of this estate marks a significant milestone for the EFCC and demonstrates the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to combat corruption in Nigeria.
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