The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced its largest asset recovery to date on Monday, seizing an expansive estate in Abuja. The property spans 150,500 square meters, including 753 duplexes and other apartments, situated in the Lokogoma District.
The recovery follows a ruling from Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie on December 2, 2024, which ordered the final forfeiture of the estate. Earlier, on November 1, 2024, the court had granted an interim forfeiture order. The property is linked to a former top government official, who is under investigation by the EFCC for alleged corruption.
The EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed that the property, valued as the largest seizure in the agency’s history, was acquired through fraudulent means. The EFCC utilized the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act and constitutional provisions to back its case.
Justice Onwuegbuzie ruled that the official had failed to justify the legitimacy of the property, which was likely funded by the proceeds of crime. This action is a part of the EFCC’s ongoing effort to strip corrupt individuals of ill-gotten wealth.
