The federal government has been charged to allocate 753 forfeited duplexes in Abuja to deserving medical doctors and civil servants as a mass housing scheme.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has on Monday announced that Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, ordered the final forfeiture of an estate in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 Units of duplexes and other apartments.
The anti-graft agency said that this was the single largest asset recovery since its inception in 2003, adding that 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.
“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,” the EFCC said.
Although the commission did not mention the top former government official that the property was recovered from, unconfirmed report claimed that embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, owns the forfeited large estate in Abuja.
Emefiele is standing trial on several charges bordering on corruption, including in the new naira redesign before the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
Justice Maryann Anenih had adjourned the matter till December 4, 2024, and January 21, 2025 for continuation of trial.
Meanwhile, reacting in a statement, a human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi advised against auctioning of the forfeited property, advising that they should be completed and handed over to deserving medical practitioners and civil servants to encourage them in their service to humanity.
Olajengbesi stated that the landmark seizure of the landed property would deter corrupt public office holders.
He said, “The EFCC should not auction off the forfeited properties but complete them and hand them over to doctors and other deserving civil servants to encourage them in their service to humanity.”
