Why EFCC Won’t Reveal Owner of Forfeited Abuja Estate

Pat Stevens/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has clarified its decision not to disclose the identity of the owner of 753 forfeited duplexes and apartments in Abuja, amid public speculation that the properties belong to the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, explained in a statement that the forfeiture followed a civil proceeding under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, which allows action to be taken directly against unclaimed property rather than an individual.

“This procedure, known as action-in-rem, is designed for cases where ownership of assets is disputed or denied,” Oyewale said.

The properties, located on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, were recovered after the EFCC acted on “actionable intelligence.”

Investigations revealed no individual or entity claimed ownership of the estate when public notices were issued in national newspapers. Subsequently, the EFCC sought and obtained a final forfeiture order from Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on December 2, 2024.

Speculation about the ownership of the estate intensified after some individuals alleged it belongs to Emefiele, who is currently facing separate legal battles.

The EFCC firmly denied allegations of concealing the owner’s identity, stating that criminal investigations into the matter are ongoing.

“It would be unprofessional and premature to name individuals whose identities are not directly linked to any title documents for the properties,” the statement noted.

The EFCC emphasised that the forfeiture represents a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s fight against corruption, urging citizens to focus on addressing systemic loopholes that enable such large-scale fraud.

“Nigerians should gear up more against lapses in our system that continue to make the nation vulnerable to corrupt tendencies,” Oyewale said.

The commission reaffirmed its commitment to a “no-sacred-cow” approach to tackling financial crimes and called for public support in its efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s financial system.

Editor