Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
In a landmark ruling on Monday, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie ordered the final forfeiture of a sprawling 150,500-square-metre estate in Abuja’s Lokogoma District, containing 753 duplexes and apartments. This estate, located on Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, is the largest asset recovery ever achieved by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since its inception in 2003.
Truth Live News gathered that the EFCC disclosed that the property, linked to a former top government official, was acquired through proceeds of corruption. The court ruled that the respondent failed to provide justification for the ownership of the estate. The judgment followed an interim forfeiture order issued on November 1, 2024.
While the EFCC’s pursuit of justice is commendable, the absence of the perpetrator’s name raises questions. Is the secrecy a legal strategy to strengthen the case? Or could it reflect political sensitivities surrounding the investigation? Critics may argue that withholding the name could obscure accountability and public transparency in an anti-corruption crusade.
The forfeiture was grounded in Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act and Section 44 (2)(B) of the Constitution. The EFCC Establishment Act also mandates asset recovery as a tool to deter financial crimes, allowing the Commission to seize properties if they exceed an individual’s lawful income.
According to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, asset recovery is a tactical imperative:
“If you allow the corrupt or those you are investigating to access the proceeds of their crime, they will fight you with it. Depriving them of these proceeds is key to weakening their defenses.”
This august case shows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to tackling corruption. Critics, however, will watch closely to ensure such victories do not serve as mere optics but herald systemic reforms to root out corruption at all levels.
This record-breaking recovery is a testament to the EFCC’s resolve but also leaves the public yearning for full disclosure and accountability. Transparency about the individual behind this monumental fraud would strengthen public trust in the anti-corruption drive and send a stronger deterrent message.