The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recorded a major victory in its anti-corruption campaign after a Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the final forfeiture of 52 luxury terrace and maisonette houses linked to alleged proceeds of unlawful activities to the Federal Government.
Justice Alexandra Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, gave the order in respect of the properties located at Mercyville Estate, Covenant Way, off New Road, Ilasan, Lekki, Lagos.
The properties were recovered from Fielddreams Limited, Ifeanyi Nweke and Amex Savings and Loans Limited.
The ruling followed a Motion on Notice filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC through its counsel, Franklin Ofoma.
The anti-graft agency had earlier secured an interim forfeiture order on August 14, 2024, from Justice Akintayo Aluko after convincing the court that the properties were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The court had also directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper to allow anyone with an interest in the properties to show cause why they should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Following the publication, the respondents filed affidavits opposing the forfeiture.
However, during the proceedings, the EFCC argued that the respondents gave conflicting explanations on how the properties were financed.
According to the Commission, the respondents initially claimed the houses were completed using proceeds from the sale of 29 terrace and maisonette units valued at ₦1.9 billion, but later alleged that some of the properties were never completed.
The EFCC maintained that the contradictions weakened the respondents’ case.
Counsel to the Commission also informed the court that the second respondent, Ifeanyi Nweke, was a fugitive facing criminal charges and had failed to appear before two courts for his arraignment despite existing warrants for his arrest.
He further told the court that Nweke had jumped the administrative bail earlier granted to him by the EFCC.
In her ruling, Justice Owoeye held that the contradictions in the respondents’ affidavit made their evidence unreliable.
She consequently rejected their affidavit and ruled that there was no valid opposition to the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture.
The judge held that the Commission had successfully established reasonable grounds to believe that the properties were proceeds of unlawful activities.
She therefore granted the EFCC’s application and ordered the final forfeiture of the 52 luxury housing units to the Federal Government.
