EFCC secures Abuja estate with 753 units forfeited to FG

I In a historic ruling on December 2, 2024, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered the final forfeiture of an estate in Lokogoma District, Abuja, to the federal government.

Spanning 150,500 square meters and housing 753 duplexes and apartments, the estate is the largest asset recovery by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since its establishment in 2003.

The property, located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, was forfeited by a former senior government official, following investigations that revealed it was acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities. This recovery underscores the EFCC's commitment to depriving corrupt individuals of ill-gotten gains and ensuring justice prevails.

Justice Onwuegbuzie, delivering the landmark ruling, declared, “The respondent has not shown cause as to why he should not lose the property, which has been reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities. The property is hereby finally forfeited to the federal government.”

The decision followed an interim forfeiture order granted on November 1, 2024. The EFCC invoked Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act (2006) and Section 44 (2)(B) of the 1999 Constitution, providing a robust legal framework to strip the official of the fraudulent asset.

The EFCC’s mandate, as detailed in Part 2, Section 7 of its Establishment Act, empowers the Commission to investigate and recover properties inconsistent with the suspect's legitimate income.

Mr. Ola Olukoyede, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, hailed the forfeiture as a testament to the Commission's effectiveness in the fight against corruption. He noted that asset recovery is central to dismantling financial crimes.

Speaking before the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-corruption, Olukoyede said, “If you understand the intricacies involved in financial crimes investigation and prosecution, you will discover that to recover one billion naira is war. The moment we start investigation, we must also start asset tracing. Asset recovery is pivotal in the anti-corruption fight. If you allow the corrupt to access proceeds of their crime, they will fight you with it. One of the ways to weaken them is to deprive them of those proceeds.”

This recovery highlights the EFCC's dedication to enforcing the provisions of its Establishment Act, which mandates asset tracing, interim attachment orders, and final forfeitures to strengthen anti-corruption measures.

The confiscation of the Lokogoma estate not only demonstrates the EFCC's operational efficacy but also aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's commitment to intensifying the fight against corruption.

With this achievement, the EFCC has set a new benchmark in asset recovery, reinforcing its resolve to ensure that the corrupt cannot enjoy the fruits of their illegal activities. This milestone signifies a major leap forward in Nigeria's anti-corruption crusade.