23.12.2025
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the permanent forfeiture of a multi-billion-naira expanse of lands approved for the Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Model Housing Estate to the Federal Government.
Judge Mohammed Umar granted the request by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
ICPC’s lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, moved the application, which was not opposed by defence lawyer, Hassan Liman, a Senior Advocate of NIgeria (SAN).
Mr Umar directed the ICPC, on behalf of the federal government, to supervise the construction of the land to completion of the 962 housing units as earlier proposed.
The judge held that the supervision should be done in collaboration with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), the sole respondent in the case, and ensure the utilisation of the housing units by end users.
Mr Umar said, “An order is hereby made for the final forfeiture of Plot No. 5 in Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, Abuja measuring approximately 122015.80m2 and valued at N1,944,375,000.00 (one billion, nine hundred forty-four million, three hundred and seventy-five thousand naira.
“An order is hereby made for the final forfeiture of Plot No. 4 in Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, Abuja, measuring approximately 157198.30 metre square and valued at N3,340,500,000.00 (three billion, three Hundred Forty Million, five hundred thousand naira), suspected of being proceeds of unlawful activity.
“An order is hereby made directing the applicant, through the ICPC, to facilitate the hand-over of the forfeited properties to the respondent i.e. Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, being the victim of the alleged unlawful activity.”
Mr Umar held that the interim forfeiture of the multi-billion naira assets approved by the FMBN shall be pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The land was suspected of being proceeds of an unlawful activity.
The FMBN requested and got approval to commence construction of “Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Model Housing Estate” on 30 July 2012.
Mr Marcus said following the approval, a framework agreement between FMBN and Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited was entered on 27 January 2012.
He said sequel to the said framework agreement, the bank appointed a consultant for the project vide a letter dated 1 February 2012.
He said investigation revealed that FMBN sought and obtained a loan facility of $65 million from Ecobank Limited for the construction of the 962 residential housing units through Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited, a private company for the benefit of low income earners.
He said the tenure of the project was for 18 months.
Mr Marcus said the FMBN through the then managing director paid to Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited the sum of N3.785 billion as drawdown on 22 November 2012.
He said the alleged sum of money was paid as drawdown without evidence of registration with Real Estate Developers Association by Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited as pre-condition for such payment.
“Investigation also revealed that the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria has paid the full project amount of (65 million dollars to Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited without a single house on the project site,” he said. NAN