The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in its fight against corruption with the final forfeiture of a massive estate in Abuja.
The estate, located on Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, spans 150,500 square meters and includes 753 duplexes and apartments.
This is the single largest asset recovery in the Commission’s history, dating back to its inception in 2003.
The final forfeiture order was issued by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal High Court on Monday.
The judge ruled that the respondent, a former high-ranking government official under investigation by the EFCC, failed to demonstrate that the property was acquired through legitimate means.
“The property, which has been reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities, is hereby finally forfeited to the federal government,” Justice Onwuegbuzie declared.
The EFCC’s investigation revealed that the estate was fraudulently acquired, prompting the Commission to invoke Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006 and Section 44 (2)(B) of the 1999 Constitution.
The legal framework enabled the Commission to trace, seize, and secure the forfeiture of the property.
“This forfeiture underscores the EFCC’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that proceeds of corruption and fraud do not remain in the hands of perpetrators,” the Commission stated in a release.
The recovery process began with an interim forfeiture order granted by the same court on November 1, 2024.
Following due legal procedures, the EFCC successfully escalated the case to final forfeiture status.
The EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, emphasized the importance of asset recovery in the fight against corruption. “Asset recovery is a critical tool in our anti-corruption strategy.
Depriving suspects of the proceeds of their crimes weakens their ability to undermine our investigations,” Olukoyede said recently during a briefing with the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption.
The EFCC has adopted a proactive approach, combining financial crime investigations with asset tracing from the outset.
This strategy has led to several high-profile recoveries, with the Abuja estate standing out as a testament to the Commission’s effectiveness.
The EFCC Establishment Act empowers the Commission to investigate and recover properties acquired through illicit means.
Part 2, Section 7 of the Act stipulates that properties linked to economic and financial crimes can be traced, seized, and forfeited upon court approval.
The Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, reiterated the importance of this process, noting, “Recovering assets not only ensures justice but also deters future financial crimes by showing that crime does not pay.”
The Abuja estate forfeiture reflects the federal government’s renewed commitment to accountability under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The recovery sends a strong message to corrupt officials and individuals that illicit gains will not be shielded from justice.
As investigations into the former government official continue, the EFCC remains resolute in its mission to curb financial crimes and restore public trust in Nigeria’s institutions.
This case sets a new benchmark in the country’s anti-corruption efforts, reinforcing the principle that no one is above the law.