Sunday, May 25, 2025 - The Federal Government has announced plans to sell 753 housing units confiscated from former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to members of the public. This move was revealed in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, following a joint site inspection led by the Minister, Ahmed Dangiwa, and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede.
The housing estate, located in Abuja, was recovered by the
EFCC in December 2024 and handed over to the Ministry after a directive from
President Bola Tinubu. During the visit, Dangiwa confirmed that the Ministry
would begin immediate technical assessments of the buildings, including
structural integrity tests, to determine their readiness for completion and
sale.
Once deemed structurally sound, the housing units will be
made available to Nigerians through the Renewed Hope Portal, a government
platform aimed at increasing public access to affordable housing. Dangiwa
emphasised the administration’s dedication to transparency, noting that such
asset recoveries demonstrate a clear stance against corruption.
“The government of the day is serious about fighting
corruption,” the Minister stated, praising the EFCC for what he described as
one of the most substantial recoveries in Nigeria’s recent history. He called
on public officials to avoid corrupt practices and urged citizens to continue
supporting the EFCC in its anti-corruption mandate.
Speaking during the inspection, EFCC Chairman Olukoyede
stressed the importance of public awareness regarding the recovery. He noted
that what had previously been broadcast were only aerial images, and that the
inspection served to prove the estate’s existence and extent. According to the
EFCC, the estate, which spans more than 150,000 square metres and comprises
duplexes and other residential units, is the largest single asset recovery
since the commission was established in 2003.
The property was forfeited to the federal government
following a final order issued by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal
Capital Territory High Court on December 2, 2024. In April 2025, Emefiele
attempted to reclaim the estate, arguing that the EFCC had failed to inform him
of the forfeiture proceedings despite his ongoing interactions with the agency
concerning other charges. His application was ultimately dismissed by the
court, upholding the federal government’s right to the asset.
The government’s decision to convert the recovered estate
into public housing aligns with broader efforts to tackle corruption and make
economic assets available for the benefit of Nigerian citizens.
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