EFCC secures final forfeiture of massive Abuja estate (Photos)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the final forfeiture of a vast property located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) following a ruling by Judge Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court on Monday.

IDOMA VOICE reports that the forfeited property, covering 150,500 square meters and consisting of 753 duplexes and various apartments, is the largest single asset recovered by the EFCC since its inception in 2003. According to Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s spokesperson, the property belonged to a “former top brass of the government,” whose identity was not disclosed.

“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,” Oyewale explained. He added that the estate was fraudulently developed by the official, who is currently under investigation. The forfeiture, he noted, is a crucial step in depriving the individual of the proceeds of the crime.

The EFCC cited Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and Section 44 (2) B of the 1999 Constitution as the legal basis for securing the forfeiture. Oyewale emphasized that the EFCC’s Establishment Act places significant importance on asset recovery as part of its anti-corruption mandate.

The judge ruled that the respondent failed to provide sufficient justification for retaining the property. EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede underscored that asset recovery is a vital tool in the fight against corruption, noting that it acts as a deterrent to economic and financial crimes.

See images of the recovered property below: