Many Nigerians have attacked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for not revealing the name of the owner of seized 753-duplex estate located in Abuja.
It was reported on Monday, the anti-graft agency announced its largest asset recovery since its establishment in 2003.
The recovered asset, located in the Federal Capital Territory, is an estate spanning 150,500 square meters and comprising 753 units of duplexes and other apartments. The estate is situated on Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja.
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The recovery followed a ruling delivered on December 2, 2024 by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie.
On November 1, 2024, the judge had given an order of interim forfeiture on the property.
A statement by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said the property was owned by a former top brass of the government.
He said, “Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, on Monday, December 2, 2024, gave a ruling on a final forfeiture of an estate in Abuja measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 units of duplexes and other apartments. This is the single largest asset recovery by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission since its inception in 2023. The estate rests on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja.
“The forfeiture of the property to the Federal Government by a former top brass of the government was pursuant to EFCC’s mandate and policy directive of ensuring that the corrupt and fraudulent do not enjoy the proceeds of their unlawful activities.”
Oyewale said the commission relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud And Other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14, 2006 and Section 44 (2) B of the Constitution of the 1999 Constitution to push its case.
Ruling on the commission’s application for the final forfeiture of the property, Oyewale said Justice Onwuegbuzie held that the respondent had not shown cause as to why he should not lose the property, which was reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.
“The government official, who fraudulently built the estate, is being investigated by the EFCC. The forfeiture of the asset is an important modality of depriving the suspect of the proceeds of the crime,” Oyewale added.
However, Nigerians reacting to the development blasted the EFCC for not disclosing the name the “former top brass of the government” that owned the properties. They questioned the integrity of the anti-graft agency, asking that is the EFCC now afraid to name thieves running down the country’s economy by diverting public funds for personal use?”
Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general elections reacting on his X handle said; ” “What is the name of the “former top brass” with 753 duplexes seized by the EFCC in Abuja?
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“The @officialEFCC is now doing PR for thieves. They seized this large estate with 753 duplexes from a single individual in Abuja but can’t mention his or her name.
“If it is Yahoo boys, they will line laptops and Nokia phones in front of them and send their photos globally even before their trial is commenced. The same EFCC is now AFRAID of BIG Thieves!”
Maiwada Dammallam, a Facebook user said; “And who’s the official? It’s unfair how some suspects will be paraded before the media by the EFCC without being convicted while another category will have their names hidden despite obvious culpability. Are we operating two different kind of laws? I’m an ardent supporter of the EFCC but it’s my sincere opinion that the agency should neither be biased nor be seen to be so when dealing with corruption.”
Chukwuemeka Kingsley Chinemeze, another Facebook user wrote; “Incomplete information, which case is this, who forfeited this kind of asset in this economy? Government will borrow to develop, government officials will loot the borrowed fund and government will return to tax everybody to pay back the debt. What a wicked system!”
𝐏𝐚𝐋 𝐊𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 reacted; “Oga, until you mention the name of the criminal and parade him the same way you parade yahoo boys, I’ll never believe you’re fighting for a good cause.”
SizZzle with user @n6oflife6 on X said; “Nobody Cares. 😤 You catch regular Nigerians everyday and Display their names and faces all over The Internet but a Criminal of this Magnitude you want us to be satisfied with “Former Top Govt Brass” You guys are taking Nigerians for a Sick Ride. NAME HIM IMMEDIATELY. 😡 Madness.”
Another X user @flourish007 reacted; “We often hear about seizures and forfeitures, but when these assets are sold to the highest bidder, there’s complete silence, and the matter is brushed aside.
“Who owned the Ikoyi property where large sums of cash were discovered?”
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