EFCC scores big against corruption with historic forfeiture of Abuja mega-estate

In an unprecedented ruling on December 2, 2024, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered a seismic blow against corruption by ordering the final forfeiture of a sprawling estate in Lokogoma District, Abuja, to the federal government.

This decisive judgment underscores Nigeria’s intensified campaign to root out corruption and dismantle illicit wealth.

Spanning an astounding 150,500 square meters and housing 753 luxury duplexes and apartments, the estate is the most significant single asset recovery ever achieved by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since its inception in 2003.

The forfeited property, located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, belonged to a former senior government official and was flagged during EFCC investigations as being acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities.

The process began with an interim forfeiture order on November 1, 2024, and culminated in the December 2 judgment, marking a milestone in Nigeria’s judicial history.

Justice Onwuegbuzie, delivering the verdict, emphasized the overwhelming evidence:

“The respondent has 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 EFCC’s relentless pursuit of justice was instrumental in this landmark victory. Invoking Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act (2006) and Section 44 (2)(B) of the 1999 Constitution, the EFCC meticulously built a watertight case against the official.

The Commission’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has repeatedly described asset recovery as pivotal in the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes and a major disincentive against the corrupt and the fraudulent.

With the largest asset recovery in its history, the EFCC has not only raised the bar but also turned the Lokogoma estate into a lasting symbol of Nigeria’s uncompromising war against corruption. This achievement represents more than reclaimed wealth—it reflects the country’s determination to rebuild trust and ensure that no one is above the law.