An Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has urged the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, not to auction the forfeited 753 Abuja duplexes.
Henzodaily reported that the EFCC successfully obtained the final forfeiture of a property 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”.
Olajengbesi, while reacting to the development, said the anti-graft agency should hand over the forfeited estate to deserving civil servants and doctors to encourage them.
Olajengbesi described the feat as a milestone in asset recovery, stressing that the EFCC’s intelligence gathering and diligent prosecution are most admirable.
He added that the forfeiture also sends a message to corrupt politicians and their cronies diverting public funds to amass wealth for themselves.
He said, “This is a boost for the fight against corruption and asset recovery, which is a fulcrum for Nigeria’s anti-graft war,” Olajengbesi said.
“The intelligence gathering and diligent prosecution of the EFCC team is most admirable.
“This successful final forfeiture sends a message to corrupt politicians and their cronies diverting public funds to amass wealth for themselves.
“The EFCC should not auction off the forfeited properties but complete them and hand them over to doctors and other deserving civil servants to encourage them in their service to humanity.”