The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, formally handed over 753 recovered housing units to the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
The property, located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, spans 150,500 square metres and comprises duplexes and other residential apartments. It was recovered by the EFCC following a final forfeiture order issued by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on December 2, 2024.
Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja, Mr. Olukoyede reaffirmed the EFCC’s commitment to transparency and accountability in asset recovery and disposal. He emphasized that the Commission remains resolute in ensuring that proceeds of crime are not only recovered but also returned to public use.
“This handover is a demonstration of our resolve to ensure that looted assets are not re-looted. Nigerians deserve to see the direct benefits of recovered assets,” Olukoyede said. “One of the primary objectives of our work is to deprive corrupt individuals of the proceeds of crime and reinvest those assets in the common good.”
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for its strong stance against corruption, noting that the handover was a clear indication of the government’s seriousness in combating economic and financial crimes.
Receiving the property on behalf of the Ministry, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa, lauded the EFCC’s sustained efforts in asset recovery. He described the event as “a significant milestone in our collective resolve to ensure recovered assets are repurposed to benefit the Nigerian people.”
Dangiwa further disclosed plans for a joint familiarization tour of the estate by officials of the Ministry and the EFCC to assess its structural integrity and determine appropriate next steps for its utilization.
The handover marks a key moment in the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure that forfeited assets are used to advance national development objectives.
