The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the final forfeiture of a massive estate in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The forfeiture was ordered by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court in response to an application filed by the EFCC.
According to a statement by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the estate spans 150,500 square meters and comprises 753 duplexes and other apartments. It is the largest single asset ever recovered by the EFCC since its establishment in 2003.
Although the identity of the individual who forfeited the property remains undisclosed, Oyewale noted that it belonged to a “former top government official.”
The EFCC had initially secured an interim forfeiture order for the property on November 1, 2024. The court ruled that the respondent failed to provide sufficient justification to retain ownership of the estate.
“The government official who fraudulently built the estate is under investigation,” Oyewale revealed. “The forfeiture deprives the suspect of the proceeds of the crime, aligning with the EFCC’s mandate to recover assets from corrupt activities.”
The Commission invoked Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and Section 44(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution to strengthen its case.
EFCC Chair Ola Olukoyede emphasized the significance of asset recovery in combating corruption and financial crimes, describing it as a crucial deterrent to fraudulent activities.
This landmark recovery underscores the EFCC’s commitment to upholding accountability and dismantling the financial gains of corruption.
