Nigerians have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to name the person behind an estate which was described by the commission as the single largest asset recovery till date.
The EFCC reported that Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie on Monday 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, EFCC, since its inception in 2003. The Estate rests on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja,” the EFCC said.
“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. In this instance, 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 199 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to push its case.
“Ruling on the Commission’s application for the final forfeiture of the property, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that the respondent have not shown cause as to why he should not lose the property, ‘which has been reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities, the property is hereby finally forfeited to the federal government.’
“The road to the final forfeiture of the property was paved by an interim forfeiture order, secured before the same Judge on November 1, 2024. The government official which 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.”
The commission’s chairman Ola Olukoyede welcomed the development.
In reaction, an X user @spoiltkid wrote: “For withholding the name you are considered as the biggest fraud ever in Nigerian history.”
Dipo Awojide on X as @OgbeniDipo wrote, “Full disclosure is needed to build trust. You should include the name of the individual.”
Another X user wrote with the handle @RealQueenBee, “This is just for media frenzy. It will be auctioned for #100m to one of them. But who’s the former govt top brass? Anyways, trust the EFCC at your peril.”
Media strategist John Fanimokun wrote, “A former top brass who stole like there is no tomorrow has no name??? And you guys want Nigerians to trust you. Sad!”
Social media influencer David of FCT with the handle @Dhavidote wrote: “The “former top brass of the government” no get name?”
Another social media user @OgaMayorr wrote, “Top brass is the name of the thief ….@officialEFCC the name of the thief and how many years sentence will he/she do ?”
