Crime

FCT Court Rejects Emefiele’s Request to Reclaim 753 Duplex Estate in Abuja

Published by Tope Fakinlede on April 28th, 2025.

FCT Court Rejects Emefiele’s Request to Reclaim 753 Duplex Estate in Abuja

A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has turned down former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele’s attempt to take back a large estate of 753 duplexes in Abuja.

The estate is located in Lokogoma District on Plot 109 and covers about 150,500 square meters. It was originally planned as a mass housing project but was later linked to Emefiele after investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC claimed the property was bought using money gotten through illegal means, including bribes and shady deals during Emefiele’s time at the CBN.

On December 2, 2024, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie granted a final forfeiture order after an earlier temporary one. The court said Emefiele could not prove that the money used to acquire the estate was clean.

The ruling was based on Nigerian laws that allow the government to take over assets believed to have been bought with stolen or illegal funds.

EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede said recovering stolen assets is an important part of the fight against corruption. It helps recover public funds and discourages others from doing the same.

Some members of the public, including a human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, praised the EFCC’s actions. He suggested the government should use the forfeited duplexes to house doctors and civil servants instead of leaving them unused.

Although the EFCC didn’t officially name Emefiele as the owner of the estate, documents and investigations strongly tied him to the property. The agency said they kept the owner’s name out of the public to follow proper legal procedures.

This case is another big step in Nigeria’s fight against corruption and a reminder that public officials can be held responsible for how they use public funds.