Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal High Court has ordered the final forfeiture of a sprawling estate in Abuja, marking the single largest asset recovery in the history of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The property, situated on Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, spans 150,500 square meters and comprises 753 duplexes and apartments. It was confiscated from a former high-ranking government official, whose identity remains undisclosed pending further investigation.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie declared, “The respondent has failed to show cause why the property, reasonably suspected to be acquired through unlawful activities, should not be forfeited. It is hereby ordered that the estate is finally forfeited to the federal government.”
The judgment follows an interim forfeiture order issued on November 1, 2024. The EFCC built its case under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and Section 44(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the agency to seize assets suspected to be proceeds of economic crimes.
EFCC Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede described the recovery as a landmark victory in the agency’s anti-corruption mandate. Addressing lawmakers at a recent House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption session, Olukoyede emphasized the critical role of asset recovery in curbing financial crimes.
“Recovering N1 billion is akin to waging a war. Asset tracing must begin alongside investigations to prevent suspects from using illicit wealth to resist justice. This estate forfeiture is a testament to that strategy,” Olukoyede noted.
The EFCC Act grants the Commission sweeping powers to investigate and confiscate properties disproportionate to an individual’s legitimate income. Once assets are identified, the Commission applies for interim forfeiture, eventually escalating to final forfeiture if evidence of financial misconduct is established.
This recovery aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed commitment to fighting corruption, reinforcing Nigeria’s stance against economic crimes and illicit wealth.
