Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
In what has been described as the largest asset recovery in its history, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the final forfeiture of a massive estate in Abuja. The property, measuring 150,500 square meters and comprising 753 duplexes and apartments, is located on Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District.
Truth Live News gathered that the landmark forfeiture, ordered by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie on Monday, marks a significant milestone in the fight against corruption. However, fresh allegations have added a controversial twist to the case.
Activist and politician Omoyele Sowore has alleged that the estate belongs to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele. In a statement, Sowore claimed:
> “I just heard from the grapevine that the 753 duplexes forfeited by an FCT Court in Apo belong to Muhammadu Buhari’s CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele! He reportedly told EFCC he was planning to build a duplex for each of Nigeria’s local government areas; he planned to build 774 duplexes before he was sacked!”
While the EFCC has not officially named the owner of the property, Sowore’s allegations have sparked widespread speculation and intensified calls for transparency.
The EFCC, citing Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act and Section 44 (2)(B) of the Constitution, secured the forfeiture on the grounds that the property was acquired with proceeds of corruption. Justice Onwuegbuzie ruled that the respondent failed to justify the ownership of the estate, paving the way for the final forfeiture to the federal government.
If the allegations against Emefiele prove true, this case would further implicate a high-ranking official from the Buhari administration in financial misconduct. The public is now questioning why the EFCC has yet to officially disclose the owner’s identity, with many viewing such omissions as a barrier to full accountability.
While EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede has lauded the recovery as pivotal in the anti-corruption fight, critics argue that true justice demands not just asset recovery but also holding individuals accountable. Forfeiting an estate without naming those behind the alleged fraud risks reducing the anti-corruption campaign to mere theatrics.
The recovery is a feather on EFCC’ hat and shows the EFCC’s operational capability, but the unanswered questions surrounding ownership highlight the need for greater transparency. If the former CBN governor is indeed involved, the case may become a watershed moment in Nigeria’s fight against institutional corruption.