The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has addressed criticism surrounding its recovery of a 150,500-square-meter estate in Abuja, comprising 753 duplexes and apartments.
The estate, located in the Lokogoma District, was forfeited to the Federal Government on December 2, 2024, following a court ruling.
In a statement released on December 3, 2024, the EFCC clarified that the forfeiture was executed under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, emphasizing that the process adhered strictly to Nigerian law. The commission underscored that the forfeiture was a civil proceeding targeting the property itself rather than individuals directly.
The EFCC responded to remarks by activist Omoyele Sowore, who criticized the recovery effort, calling such denigration “unacceptable” and “uncharitable.” The commission urged Nigerians to focus on the systemic issues that enable corruption, rather than undermining efforts to combat it.
The statement explained that the forfeiture was based on actionable intelligence. Investigations revealed that the company linked to the estate denied ownership following public notices in national newspapers. Consequently, the EFCC sought a court order for final forfeiture, which Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court granted.
The EFCC also addressed claims of concealing the identities of individuals behind the estate, noting that the lack of direct links to title documents made it premature to name suspects publicly. The commission emphasized that revealing names without clear evidence would be unprofessional and reiterated its commitment to a thorough investigation.
The EFCC urged citizens to focus on addressing systemic lapses that allow such large-scale corruption to occur. “It is shocking that the activist is not concerned about the systemic lassitude and unhelpful permissiveness that allowed such a monstrous corrupt act in the first instance,” the statement read.
The criminal investigation into the estate continues, with the EFCC reaffirming its “no-sacred-cow” policy in uncovering those responsible.
METROBLOG reported that this recovery marks the EFCC’s largest asset forfeiture since its inception in 2003. The court ruled that the estate, linked to a former high-ranking official, was “reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.” The ruling aligns with the EFCC’s mandate to combat corruption under Nigerian law.
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