ABUJA, Nigeria — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 officially handed over 753 uncompleted duplexes—linked to former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele—to the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for public use, marking what authorities describe as the “largest single asset recovery” in the commission’s history.
The estate, located in the Lokogoma district of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was transferred to Housing Minister Ahmed Dangiwa by EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede at a brief handover ceremony.
President Bola Tinubu, according to a statement from the Ministry of Housing, has directed that the estate be completed and allocated to Nigerians through a “transparent and accountable” process as part of the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda.
“As a next step, we will conduct a comprehensive integrity and structural assessment of all buildings and associated infrastructure to ensure safety and suitability for habitation,” Minister Dangiwa said.
He outlined a plan to complete outstanding infrastructure such as roads, drainage systems, and other basic amenities to make the estate livable.
A uniform housing design framework will also be introduced to guide future allottees and maintain architectural consistency.
“Finally, the housing units will be offered for sale through a transparent and competitive process, which will be widely advertised and managed via the Renewed Hope Portal,” the statement added.
In December 2024, the FCT High Court presided over by Justice Jude Onwegbuzie ordered the final forfeiture of the estate following an application by the EFCC.
While the commission did not initially name the property’s owner, it later emerged that the estate was linked to Godwin Emefiele, who served as CBN governor from 2014 to 2023.
Emefiele, who has faced multiple legal challenges and corruption allegations since leaving office, attempted in April 2025 to reclaim the property through a court filing.
He argued that the forfeiture proceedings occurred without his knowledge and accused the EFCC of publishing the interim forfeiture notice in an “obscure” section of a national newspaper, thereby denying him an opportunity to respond.
Justice Onwegbuzie dismissed Emefiele’s application, ruling that the notice met the legal standards set under Section 17(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
He described the EFCC’s half-page notice in a national daily as “sufficient and not hidden.”
The EFCC has touted the Lokogoma estate seizure as its most significant asset recovery since the agency was established in 2003.
The estate’s recovery is part of broader efforts to identify and repurpose assets obtained through alleged illicit enrichment by former public officials.
