The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully obtained the final forfeiture of a property situated in the federal capital territory (FCT) following a ruling on Monday by Judge Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court.
In a statement made available to newsmen, the spokesperson for the anti-corruption agency, Dele Oyewale, noted that the property spans 150,500 square meters and comprises 753 units of duplexes and various other apartments, marking it as the largest single asset recovered by the EFCC since its establishment in 2003.
The individual who forfeited the property was not mentioned, but Oyewale said it belonged to a “former top brass of the government”.
“The road to the final forfeiture of the property was paved by an interim forfeiture order, secured before the same Judge on November 1, 2024,” he said.
“The government official which 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.
“In this instance, 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 199 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to push its case.
“The Establishment Act of the Commission places huge emphasis on asset recovery.”
The spokesperson for the EFCC stated that the judge determined the respondent failed to provide sufficient justification for retaining the property in question.
Oyewale referenced Ola Olukoyede, the chair of the EFCC, who emphasized that asset recovery is essential in combating corruption economic and financial crimes, and serves as a significant deterrent to corrupt and fraudulent activities.
See images of the recovered asset below:
