A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of a sprawling estate containing 753 duplexes and other apartments, allegedly owned by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The estate, located on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, covers an area of 150,500 square meters and represents the largest asset recovery by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since its establishment in 2003.
The court ruling, delivered by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie on Monday, followed the EFCC’s application under provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and the 1999 Constitution.
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The judge concluded that the respondent failed to justify ownership of the property, which was “reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.”
The forfeiture gained public attention after human rights activist and #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, alleged on social media that the estate belonged to Emefiele.
“I just heard from the grapevine that the 753 duplexes forfeited by an FCT court in Apo belong to Muhammadu Buhari’s CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele,” Sowore wrote.
Sowore criticized the EFCC for initially withholding the identity of the estate’s owner, contrasting their handling of the case with their public shaming of young internet fraud suspects, popularly known as “Yahoo boys.”
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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,” Sowore stated.
Emefiele, who is currently facing multiple corruption charges, including allegations tied to the controversial naira redesign policy, appeared before the FCT High Court in Maitama.
His trial, presided over by Justice Maryann Anenih, has been adjourned to December 4, 2024, and January 21, 2025.
The EFCC, in its official statement, emphasized that the forfeiture aligns with its mandate to ensure that proceeds of corruption do not benefit the perpetrators.
“This forfeiture demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to fighting corruption and recovering assets acquired unlawfully,” the EFCC noted.
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Sowore also used the occasion to lambast Nigeria’s longstanding housing policies, accusing successive governments of failing to provide affordable housing while allowing public officials to exploit public resources for personal gain.
“They told you since the days of the Structural Adjustment Program of IBB and Co. that the government has no business building houses for citizens, but a ‘TOP Brass’ stole from citizens and built 753 duplexes for himself,” Sowore said.
The revelation has reignited discussions on corruption, asset recovery, and the role of regulatory bodies like the EFCC in promoting accountability in public office.