The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the final forfeiture of an estate located in the federal capital territory (FCT).
Gatekeepers News reports that the presiding judge of FCT high court, Jude Onwuegbuzie delivered his verdict in favour of EFCC on Monday.
Spokesman of EFCC, Dele Oyewale in a statement released, revealed that the estate which measures 150,500 square metres and contains 753 units of duplexes and other apartments, is the largest single asset the agency has recovered since it was set up in 2003.
The name of the person who forfeited the property wasn’t disclosed, Oyewale said it belonged to a “former top brass of the government.”
He said, “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 government official which 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.”
“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.”
“The Establishment Act of the Commission places huge emphasis on asset recovery.”
The anti-graft agency’s spokesperson said the judge held that the respondent did not show cause as to why he should not lose the property.
According to Oyewale; Ola Olukoyede, EFCC’s chairman said the asset recovery is “pivotal in the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes and a major disincentive against the corrupt and the fraudulent.”
