Sowore Reveals Owner of 753-Duplex Abuja Estate Forfeited to EFCC

Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele has been identified as the owner of an estate in Abuja containing 753 duplexes, which was recently forfeited to the Nigerian government. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the final forfeiture of the estate through a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court ruling on Monday.

Politician and #RevolutionNow convener Omoyele Sowore disclosed this development on his verified social media platform. Sowore criticized the EFCC for initially withholding the name of the individual linked to the estate. The activist stated, “I just heard from the grapevine that the 753 duplexes forfeited by an FCT court in Apo belong to Muhammadu Buhari’s CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele.”

The forfeited property, located in the Lokogoma District of Abuja, spans 150,500 square meters and represents the EFCC’s largest asset recovery since its inception in 2003. According to the EFCC, the forfeiture aligns with its mandate to prevent individuals from benefiting from illicit activities, citing provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Related Offences Act and the Nigerian Constitution.

Emefiele is currently facing multiple charges of corruption, including allegations connected to the controversial naira redesign. His trial is ongoing at the FCT High Court in Maitama, with proceedings adjourned to December 4, 2024, and January 21, 2025.

Justice Maryann Anenih and Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie presided over the related court proceedings. Justice Onwuegbuzie ruled that the respondent failed to demonstrate lawful ownership of the property, deeming it to have been acquired through the proceeds of unlawful activities.

Sowore, a former presidential candidate, further criticized the EFCC for what he described as selective enforcement, contrasting the Commission’s handling of this high-profile case with its treatment of low-level offenders. He noted that the EFCC often publicizes the identities and possessions of suspects, such as alleged internet fraudsters, before their trials commence.

Sowore remarked, “The @officialEFCC is now doing PR for thieves. If it is Yahoo boys, they will line laptops and Nokia phones in front of them and send their photos globally. The same EFCC is now AFRAID of BIG Thieves!”