EFCC Makes Single Largest Asset Recovery In 21 Years 

EFCC Makes Single Largest Asset Recovery In 21 Years

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, according to a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is its single largest asset recovery since inception in 2003. 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.

Ruling on the Commission’s application for the final forfeiture of the property, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that the respondent had 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 former government official who was alleged to have fraudulently built the estate is being investigated by the EFCC.