Nigerian government to sell 753 forfeited duplex estate linked to Emefiele in Abuja

The estate, located in the Cadastral Zone of Abuja, was formally handed over to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development on Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Salisu Haiba, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry.

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“The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has taken delivery of the 753 housing units in Abuja, recovered from the former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, by the EFCC,” the statement read

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc Ahmed Dangiwa, commended the EFCC for its commitment to anti-corruption and asset recovery efforts.

“This marks a significant milestone in our collective determination to ensure that recovered assets are put to productive use in ways that directly benefit the Nigerian people,” Dangiwa said.

He noted that the ministry, in collaboration with the EFCC, will soon embark on a joint familiarization tour of the estate to assess its condition.

“We intend to carry out thorough integrity and structural assessments on all buildings and associated infrastructure to confirm their safety and suitability for habitation,” he added.

Dangiwa also announced that the housing units will be made available for sale both to the public and to meet special government needs.

“For the public sale component, we will adopt a transparent and competitive process. This will include a nationwide advertisement and the use of the Renewed Hope Portal where interested Nigerians can submit their Expressions of Interest,” he stated.

While handing over the estate, EFCC Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede emphasized the significance of the event, both symbolically and practically, as a demonstration of the government’s stance on corruption.

“It is important for us to demonstrate to Nigerians that whatever proceeds of crime we recover will be applied transparently and in a manner that benefits the public,” Olukoyede said. “We will not allow looted assets to be looted again.”

What you should know

In December 2024, the anti-graft agency secured the final forfeiture of the estate following a ruling by Jude Onwegbuzie, a judge at the FCT high court.

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The EFCC had said that the forfeiture of the estate is the “largest single asset recovery” of the agency since it was set up in 2003.

The agency did not mention the name of the individual who forfeited the property but mentioned that it belonged to a “former top brass of the government”.