Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Tuesday, handed over the 753 units of houses seized from a former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele to the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
The anti-graft agency had uncovered the housing units on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, and approached the court to secure its forfeiture to the Federal Government.
The property, measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 units of duplexes and other apartments, was recovered based on a final forfeiture order granted by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on December 2, 2024.
EFCC Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede, while handing over the property, reiterated the commitment of the commission to accountable asset recovery and disposal modalities.
Olukoyede said such gestures are meant to “demonstrate to Nigerians that whatever proceeds of crime that we have recovered in the course of our work, the application of that will be made transparent to Nigerians so that we will not allow looted assets to be looted again”.
The anti-graft Agency’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Oyewale, quoted Olukoyede as saying, “It is important for us to emphasise to Nigerians that the fight against corruption can work and we can really make it work. One of the key factors that actually propel the impact of the fight is the need for us to ensure that those who have stolen our commonwealth are not allowed to enjoy the proceeds of crime.
“So, one of the critical factors of our works is that we deprive them of the proceeds of crimes.”
Olukoyede lauded President Bola Tinubu’s stance on the fight against corruption.
According to him, the handover of the property signaled the government’s seriousness in the fight against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.
The handover took place at a brief ceremony at the ministry’s headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, commended the EFCC for its sustained commitment to asset recovery and anti-corruption.
Dangiwa said the handover was a “significant milestone in our collective efforts and determination to ensure that recovered assets are put to productive use in ways that directly benefits the Nigerian people”.
