The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission disclosed Monday that a 753-duplex estate was recovered from a former top government official in Abuja. But the EFCC did not name the government official.
However, the houses planted in a 150, 500 square meter plot has been linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele. This was after EFCC agents while searching the Lagos home of the embattled former CBN governor in Lagos stumbled into a receipt ordering for roofing of the estate in Abuja with 753 houses and subsequently commenced investigation.
After his ouster as CBN governor Emefiele has been under prosecution for various crimes ranging from money laundering to corruption. The courts had granted forfeiture orders to the EFCC in other cases before that of the 753 duplexes came to light. According to the EFCC the find in Abuja was the single largest asset recovery by the Commission since its inception in 2003.
“Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, on Monday, December 2, 2024, gave a ruling on a final forfeiture of an estate in Abuja measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 units of duplexes and other apartments. This is the single largest asset recovery by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission since its inception in 2023. The estate rests on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja,” said a statement by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.
“The forfeiture of the property to the Federal Government by a former top brass of the government was pursuant to EFCC’s mandate and policy directive of ensuring that the corrupt and fraudulent do not enjoy the proceeds of their unlawful activities.”
Oyewale said the commission relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud And Other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14, 2006 and Section 44 (2) B of the Constitution of the 1999 Constitution to push its case.
“The government official, who fraudulently built the estate, is being investigated by the EFCC. The forfeiture of the asset is an important modality of depriving the suspect of the proceeds of the crime,” Oyewale added.
