Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
The operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)has uncovered a critical piece of evidence allegedly linking former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele to a massive estate in Abuja. The estate, which consists of 753 duplexes on Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, has been forfeited to the federal government following a court ruling.
Truth Live News gathered that in the search of Emefiele’s Lagos residence, EFCC investigators reportedly found a receipt ordering roofing for the vast estate. While no direct ownership documents were retrieved, the EFCC considers the receipt a pivotal link in the ongoing investigation into Emefiele’s alleged financial misconduct.
This find is regarded as the single largest asset recovery since the EFCC’s inception in 2003, signifying a major breakthrough in the agency’s crackdown on financial crimes.
Emefiele is already facing multiple charges, including alleged corruption related to the controversial naira redesign policy. Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has set further hearings for December 2024 and January 2025.
Human rights activist and former AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore criticized the EFCC’s reluctance to initially disclose details of the estate’s ownership. Sowore described the Commission as “a public relations officer for big thieves,” urging greater transparency in such high-profile cases.
The EFCC secured the forfeiture under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act and Section 44(2)(B) of the 1999 Constitution. Justice Onwuegbuzie ruled in favor of the Commission, stating that the respondent failed to justify why the property should not be forfeited.
The saga not only implicates Emefiele but raises broader concerns about corruption and accountability among Nigeria’s elite. Analysts suggest that the EFCC’s findings may set the stage for further revelations about other assets allegedly acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.
While the forfeiture marks a victory for anti-corruption efforts, questions linger about the speed and depth of investigations into top officials. Public sentiment echoes Sowore’s critique, demanding a stronger, more impartial stance against entrenched corruption.