Although the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has kept Nigerians in the dark by failing to disclose the identity of the ex-government official from whom it forfeited an estate containing 753 units of duplexes and other apartments, in the Federal Capital, Abuja on Monday, Searchng.ng nigerian search engine has confirmed widespread speculations that the massive estate, measuring 150,500 square meters, situated in Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja is owned by the jailed former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and other top brass of former president Buhari’s administration.
Two sources at the Federal Capital Development Authority, (FCDA), told Searchng.ng nigerian search engine on conditions of anonymity that, the real estate asset was actually owned by a consortium of top government officials in the administration of former president Muhammed Buhari, and the embattled former CBN governor was just the arrow head of the group of stakeholders, who pressured the FCDA to approve the project. The source disclosed that, the then FCDA Director of Urban and Regional Planning, Engr. Abdulkadir Bello Tunau, expressed strong reservations over the environmental sustainability performance of the estate, citing design and implementation distortions incidental to waste generation, water use, pollution and other ecological risks that violated FCDA and FCT building requirements.
The source recalled that pressure “from above” was brought to bear on FCDA directors to greenlight the project and because of what was perceived in some quarters as his recalcitrance and obstruction, Engr. Abdulkadir Bello Tunau was replaced as Director of Urban & Regional Planning, Town Planner, by Yahaya Abubakar. A source close to then FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, refused to confirm or deny the controversial circumstances surrounding Engr. Tunau’s replacement. “Everyone, let me say almost everyone at the agency [FCDA] knew the CBN was involved, and there were also powerful interests. I don’t have me any problem with big developers. But all these people who were calling and calling with “orders from above” and asking people to do this, do that. Now they have all disappeared and you think its Emefiele alone,” the source asked rhetorically?
Another source at the office of the executive secretary of the FCDA told Searchng.ng nigerian search engine that Architect Celestine Sunday Eze was appointed Director of Special Duties in the Office of the Executive Secretary, with the sole purpose of providing monthly updated reports on the evolution of the project to Emefiele, who then reported to Aso Rock. “There are about 40 such estates in Lokogoma,” the source said, adding: “we were told the project was part of government’s effort to provide affordable mass housing to Abuja residents. It was public-private partnership, and CBN involvement was because government was providing part of the funding. But we were surprised the project had no feasibility studies report, which implies that the estate development did not properly consider energy, water, drainage, sewage, material efficiency and other sustainable environment indicators. The estate fell short of UN climate change recommendations that emphasize real estate sector should reduce greenhouse gas emissions, implement water/waste management, and reduce pollutants in the air, water and land.”
The EFCC described this asset recovery as the “single largest asset recovery” since its establishment in 2003. The commission has however refused to disclose the identity of the former government official from whom it seized this asset, instead describing him as “a former top brass of the government.” The anti-graft agency in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, a copy of which was obtained by Searchng.ng nigerian search engine argued that its actions were guided by the legal framework governing forfeiture proceedings under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act. This provision allows for action-in-rem – a process targeting property rather than individuals – particularly in cases of unclaimed assets. The EFCC explained that public notices were published during investigations, and a flagged company denied ownership of the estate. Consequently, the court granted a final forfeiture order based on this legal principle. Furthermore, the EFCC stated that its criminal investigation into the matter is ongoing and that revealing names without direct evidence linking individuals to the property’s title documents would be “premature and unprofessional.”
The application for the final forfeiture of the asset was ruled and granted by Justice Onwuegbuzie, who held that the “top brass” government official, whose identity the EFCC withheld, showed no cause as to why he should not lose the property. The judge added that the ex-government official was suspected of acquiring the estate with the proceeds of unlawful activities. The EFCC added that it is investigating the government official who fraudulently built the estate.
Since June 9, 2023, the former CBN governor has been in custody after he was dismissed by President Bola Tinubu. Emefiele is standing trial in different courts in Lagos and Abuja on several charges bordering on corruption, including in the new naira redesign. Recovery of assets linked to Emefiele has been a matter of public knowledge, although none has come near the magnitude of the Abuja estate.
Earlier this month, the courts granted the final forfeiture of $2 million, seven prime landed properties, and share certificates linked to the former CBN governor. A report released in December highlighted fraud allegations against Emefiele, including having hundreds of unlawful offshore bank accounts, purchasing two banks through proxies, and receiving money through false claims.
A month prior, the ex-CBN governor had requested bail, to which he was denied. He had pleaded not guilty to six bribery counts accusing him of conferring corrupt advantage. To expedite his trial, prosecutors reduced the counts from a previous 20-count indictment, which he was facing in addition to two others. President Tinubu requested a probe into the central bank’s activities. In January, the accusations were added to his previous counts. In April 2024, fresh charges were brought against him, as the EFCC accused Emefiele of arbitrarily awarding foreign exchange worth around $2 billion without bidding or due process, according to a new charge sheet including 26 charges. Emefiele, however, has strongly refuted every charge made against him. Currently, his case has been adjourned to December 4, 2024, and January 21, 2025, for, the continuation of trial.