When the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, announced, on Monday, that it had made its largest asset seizure since its establishment, the question that has been playing on the lips of Nigerians is: who owns estate?
The recovered asset, located in the Federal Capital Territory, is a sprawling estate spanning 150,500 square meters and comprising 753 units of duplexes and other apartments. It is situated on Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja.
The recovery, according to Dele Oyewale the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, followed a ruling delivered on December 2, 2024 by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie. The Judge had given an order of interim forfeiture on November 1, 2024.
Though the EFCC spokesman said the confiscated property belonged to a former top government official, he refused to disclose the identity of the thieving top brass.
Oyewale merely said: “The government official, who fraudulently built the estate, is being investigated by the EFCC. The forfeiture of the asset is an important modality of depriving the suspect of the proceeds of the crime.”
While many Nigerians lauded the EFCC for the gigantic seizure, agreeing that looters must not be allowed to enjoy the filthy fruits of their unworthy deeds, they earnestly want the thief named and shamed.
One of the angry Nigerians who criticized the EFCC for its refuser to name the looter is Omoyele Sowore, the former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, who accused the commission of being afraid of confronting “big thieves.”
But on Tuesday, the EFCC defended its decision to withhold the identity of the owner of a recently recovered estate, stating that stated that its actions were guided by the legal framework governing forfeiture proceedings and a commitment to professionalism.
In a statement on Tuesday, Oyewale explained that the forfeiture of the estate followed civil proceedings under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act. And that the legal provision allows for action-in-rem—a process targeting property rather than individuals—particularly in cases of unclaimed assets.
Said Oyewale: “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 an 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. Individual in situations of unclaimed assets.”
Oyewale further disclosed that actionable intelligence led to investigations into the estate. And during the process, he said a company initially flagged as the likely owner denied any links to the property after public notices were published in leading national newspapers.
“On the basis of this,” he continued, “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.”
Despite securing the court order, Oyewale noted that its criminal investigation into the matter remains ongoing, stating that revealing the names of individuals without direct evidence connecting them to the property’s title documents would be premature and unprofessional.
“The substantive criminal investigation on the matter continues. 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,” Oyewale maintained.
The commission reiterated its commitment to impartiality and its “no sacred cow” policy, assuring the public that it remains steadfast in its mission to fight corruption.
“We are unwavering in our approach to every matter, and together we will make Nigeria greater,” he said.efcc