Abuja, Nigeria – Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie has delivered a landmark ruling in the ongoing fight against corruption, granting the final forfeiture of a massive estate in Lokogoma District, Abuja.
The property spans 150,500 square meters and includes 753 duplexes and other apartments, represents the largest asset recovery achieved by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since its inception in 2003.
The estate, situated on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, was forfeited to the federal government following an application by the EFCC. This forfeiture stems from the suspected fraudulent activities of a former high-ranking government official under investigation by the Commission. Justice Onwuegbuzie’s December 2, 2024 ruling followed an interim forfeiture order granted on November 1, 2024.
In his judgment, Justice Onwuegbuzie ruled that the respondent had failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify the ownership of the property, which had been reasonably suspected of being acquired with the proceeds of illegal activities. “The property is hereby finally forfeited to the federal government,” the judge declared.
The EFCC’s legal team relied on 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 Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution to pursue the forfeiture. The Commission also referenced the EFCC Establishment Act, which empowers the agency to investigate properties linked to individuals whose lifestyle and wealth cannot be explained by their legitimate sources of income.
The EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has long emphasized the importance of asset recovery in combating corruption. During a recent briefing with the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption, Olukoyede stated, “To recover one billion naira is war. Asset recovery is pivotal in the anti-corruption fight, and depriving corrupt individuals of the proceeds of their crimes weakens their ability to resist prosecution.”
The EFCC’s success in recovering the Abuja estate follows a clear legal process outlined in the EFCC Establishment Act. This includes applying for interim forfeiture orders and securing final forfeiture once sufficient evidence has been presented. The Commission has remained steadfast in ensuring that those profited from fraudulent activities are deprived of their ill-gotten gains.
