A federal high court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately release 27 properties earlier seized under an interim forfeiture order obtained by the agency.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the directive while delivering judgment in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/348/2025, which was filed by the EFCC.
The commission had secured an ex parte interim forfeiture order on March 13, alleging that the properties were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities. As directed by the court, the order was published in the Punch newspaper on April 4.
Following the publication, James Ikechukwu Okwete and his company, Jamec West African Limited, asserted ownership of 26 of the properties, while Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo claimed House No. 12, Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja.
All three filed affidavits to show cause and contested the EFCC’s request for a final forfeiture order.
Delivering judgment on October 31, Abdulmalik upheld their objections, dismissed the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture, and vacated the interim order.
“I firmly find that the property owner/respondent’s (Okwete’s) affidavit to show cause has merit,” the judge held.
On Oladapo’s claim, the court noted that the EFCC did not object.
“I hold in favour of the Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo being person interested in House No: 12 Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja, FCT, that since the learned senior counsel for the applicant (EFCC) has informed the court that it has no objection to her affidavit to show cause, that her affidavit filed to show cause stands substantiated in its entirety.”
Abdulmalik then set aside the interim order and directed the EFCC to release all affected properties without delay.
“Without more, I forthwith set aside and vacate in its entirety the interim order of forfeiture granted on 13th March 2025… Accordingly, I order the immediate release of the aforementioned properties/its documents to the property owner/respondent and the House No: 12 Fandriana Close… to Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo, respectively.”
She added that the EFCC’s bid for final forfeiture had become “otiose”.
Despite the clear ruling, lawyers representing Okwete and Jamec West Africa Ltd say the EFCC has failed to comply.
In a November 27 letter to EFCC chairman Serekowei Larry, their lawyer accused the commission of “blatantly disobeying” the judgment.
“We write as counsel to Mr. James Okwete and his company Jamec West Africa Ltd, the property owners, to formally apprise you of the events that have followed this case since 31st October, 2025, when judgment was given against you,” the letter reads.
He stated that the judgment was delivered in the presence of EFCC counsel on October 31, and that certified copies were served on the commission on November 14.
According to him, officials of the federal high court enforcement unit visited the EFCC on November 26 to execute the judgment but were not given the required documents.
“In straight words, your office refused to do so, thereby blatantly disobeying the said judgement, which in its penultimate paragraph used the words ‘the immediate release’,” he wrote.
He added that disobedience to court orders “undermines the rule of law”.
“In any regime, talk less of a democracy, it will be the height of it if judgments of court are blatantly disobeyed. We, however, want to believe that you are not aware of what happened, hence this letter,” he said.
The lawyer concluded that the property owners expect “positive reactions within a reasonable time before we take further steps”.