₦airaland Forum

Why we withheld identities of owners of seized 753 units duplexes in Abuja – EFCC

by Rosalia Ozibo

https://nairametrics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Untitled-design-30-700x375.png

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has responded to the criticisms following its record-breaking asset recovery of a 150,500-square-meter estate in Abuja, which includes 753 duplexes and other apartments.

The estate, located in Lokogoma District, was forfeited to the Federal Government after a successful court ruling on December 2, 2024.

Clarifying the legal process, the EFCC in a statement issued on December 3, 2024, emphasized that the forfeiture was carried out in line with Nigerian law, specifically under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.

The commission also addressed the public comments from activist Omowole Sowore, who criticized the asset recovery effort. The EFCC called the denigration of its efforts “unacceptable” and “grossly un-charitable,” urging critics to focus on the systemic issues that allowed such corrupt activities to occur in the first place.

“The expectation of the EFCC from citizens is a patriotic appreciation of its efforts in securing such a landmark forfeiture,” they said.

What they said

The statement pointed out that the forfeiture proceeding was a civil action involving the estate, rather than targeting an individual directly.

“The allegation of a cover-up of the identity of the promoters of the Estate stands logic on the head in the sense that the proceedings for the forfeiture of the Estate were in line with Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act which is a civil proceeding that allows for action-in-rem rather than action-in-personam.

The latter allows legal actions against a property and not an individual, especially in a situation of unclaimed property.

This Act allows you to take up a forfeiture proceeding against a chattel who is not a juristic person. This is exactly what the Commission did in respect of the Estate.

The proceedings that yielded the final forfeiture of the Estate were products of actionable intelligence available to the Commission. The company flagged by our investigations denied ownership of the Estate following publications made in leading national newspapers.

On the basis of this, the Commission approached the court for an order of final forfeiture which Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court granted on Monday, December 2, 2024,” the EFCC stated, defending its actions.

The EFCC further emphasized the importance of addressing systemic lapses that contribute to corruption.

“It is shocking that the activist is not concerned about the systemic lassitude and unhelpful permissiveness that allowed such a monstrous corrupt act in the first instance.

Nigerians should gear up more against lapses and loopholes in our system that continue to make the nation vulnerable to corrupt tendencies,” the statement said.

Ongoing investigation

- While the asset recovery process has concluded, the EFCC confirmed that the criminal investigation into the matter is still ongoing.
The commission stressed that it could not publicly name individuals linked to the estate without clear documentation of their involvement.
- “It will be unprofessional of the EFCC to go to town by mentioning names of individuals whose identities were not directly linked to any title document of the properties,” the statement explained.
- The EFCC reaffirmed its commitment to a “no-sacred-cow” approach in all its investigations.

Backstory

- Nairametrics previously reported that the EFCC achieved its largest asset recovery since its inception in 2003. The recovery involved the final forfeiture of a 150,500-square-meter estate in Abuja, containing 753 duplexes.
- Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court ruled on December 2, 2024, that the property, linked to a former high-ranking official, was “reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.”
- The ruling relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, aligning with the EFCC’s mandate to curb corruption.

Source: https://nairametrics.com/2024/12/03/why-we-withheld-identities-of-owners-of-seized-753-units-duplexes-in-abuja-efcc

They withheld it because they too were heavily influenced via corruption not to reveal the identity of the individual.

Mtsheew

Una no need to tell us. We already know say na corruption be the reason why una withhold the identities of owners of seized 753 units duplexes.

If na supposed Yahoo boy, wey court never even pronounced guilty...

You go done hang something for his hand, detailing his name, age, alleged offence... you go come take the mug shot and plaster am for different media platform!


Why can't you do same for this criminal, wey get mind do this monumental fraud

Sakamaje

The same way some of the properties would be released to the same people without explanation....

The latter allows legal actions against a property and not an individual, especially in a situation of unclaimed property.

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So this people are still trying to maintain that the property does not belong to that sparogator Godwin Emefiele, or anyone at all¿
Laslas na only petty thief be thief wey dem dey shame for Nigeria.

And Obidients love this Emefielelele more than they love Jesus

COMRADES, EFCC is joking, if not because of the power of the social media, the name of the thief wouldn't have been made public

What a shame

Oga forget this long and morbid epistle

Tell us who and who is involved and stop being emotional and sentimental

Obviouslyblunt:
They withheld it because they too were heavily influenced via corruption not to reveal the identity of the individual.

This one no dey read

Oya, tell us who get the house? Leave grammar 🥴🤓😂🤣 FOI no dey again?

Nonsense

Whodunnit

Issokay

Is Emefiele in their custody?

OK oo

Not surprised, same people that takes mugshots of alleged lesser criminals and plaster it online....

Make dey sha do quick,sell this country and give me my share...


I sell herbs tho

Preciousjewel9:
Tell us the owner of the house. We want to know.

you never know?

All this grammar on top of wetin. Cunny people, they're hiding their wuru-wuru beneath a mass of words.

Useless country. You catch thief - you say you can't reveal his identity.
Imagine the level of degradation.

O didn't read but any other reason aside dat them too are thieves is not acceptable

There names were not linked by documents and you can seize it but can't name them?

Una papa

Can't people read. they say na ghost get am...

I need a late night rain