The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has responded to criticisms over its recent recovery of 753 duplexes and other apartments in Lokogoma District, Abuja, explaining its decision not to disclose the owners of the properties.
CKNNews reports that the Commission, on Monday, achieved its largest single asset recovery since its establishment in 2003, following the final forfeiture of an estate comprising 753 duplexes and apartments in Abuja.
In a statement posted on its official X account on Tuesday, the agency described the recovery as a landmark achievement and emphasised that the forfeiture proceedings were conducted in line with Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act. This section allows for civil action against a property rather than an individual, particularly in cases involving unclaimed assets.
EFCC explained that investigations revealed the company linked to the estate had denied ownership, prompting the Commission to seek a court order for final forfeiture. The Federal Capital Territory High Court granted this order on December 2, 2024, following a comprehensive legal process supported by actionable intelligence.
While some Nigerians praised the agency’s efforts, others criticised the lack of transparency regarding the identity of the estate’s promoters.
The EFCC dismissed these criticisms, arguing that it would be inappropriate to disclose names while criminal investigations are ongoing and no direct ownership evidence has been established.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to fighting corruption without bias and urged Nigerians to address systemic gaps that enable large-scale financial misconduct.
The statement reads, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is following with keen interest the flurry of reactions to its record-breaking recovery of 753 duplexes and other apartments on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja.
“The commentaries of reform-minded Nigerians to the Commission’s painstaking efforts in securing the final forfeiture of the Estate to the Federal Government of Nigeria, are appreciated. However, the denigration of such efforts by Omowole Sowore and his think-same and act-same, is unacceptable and grossly un-charitable.
“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 that 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 expectation of the EFCC from citizen Sowore is a patriotic appreciation of its efforts in securing such a landmark forfeiture. 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 EFCC will continue to safeguard the financial space of the nation against manipulators and organised brigandage.
“It is important to note that the substantive criminal investigation on the matter still 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. The EFCC is unwavering in its no-sacred-cow approach to every matter, and together, we will make Nigeria greater.”
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