The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully obtained the final forfeiture of a vast estate located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, marking a significant victory in its ongoing efforts to tackle corruption and financial crimes.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court granted the forfeiture order on Monday, following a petition filed by the EFCC. The estate, which spans 150,500 square meters and includes 753 units of duplexes and other apartments, is the largest single asset ever recovered by the commission since its establishment in 2003.
The individual from whom the property was forfeited has not been publicly identified, though the EFCC confirmed that the estate belonged to a “former top brass of the government.” The forfeiture process was initiated following an interim forfeiture order secured by the EFCC on November 1, 2024, before the same judge.
Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s spokesperson, explained that the individual implicated in the fraudulent acquisition of the property is currently under investigation by the commission. The forfeiture of the estate is seen as a crucial step in depriving the suspect of the illicit gains derived from corrupt activities.
The EFCC relied on legal provisions under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act (2006) and Section 44(2)(B) of the 1999 Constitution to pursue the forfeiture. These laws are pivotal in the agency’s efforts to recover assets obtained through criminal means.
Ola Olukoyede, the EFCC Chairman, emphasized that asset recovery plays a central role in the fight against corruption and financial crimes, serving as both a deterrent and a tool to deprive corrupt individuals of ill-gotten wealth.
Justice Onwuegbuzie ruled that the respondent failed to present sufficient grounds to retain ownership of the property, allowing the final forfeiture to proceed.
