On Tuesday, the former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has expressed anger towards the non disclosure of information about the former government official who owned the forfeited 753 units of duplexes and other apartments in Abuja.
On Monday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed that Federal Capital Territory High Court, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie forfeited an Abuja estate measuring 150,500 square metres containing about 753 units of duplexes and other apartments to the government.
It was noted that the propertythat belongs to the unidentified government official is located on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja. Sowore noted that the commission is scared of the big thieves that was why the names were not mentioned.
He posted, “What is the name of the ‘former top brass’ with 753 duplexes seized by the EFCC in Abuja? The @officialEFCC is now doing PR for thieves. They seized this large estate with 753 duplexes from a single individual in Abuja but can’t mention his or her name.
“If it is Yahoo boys, they will line laptops and Nokia phones in front of them and send their photos globally even before their trial is commenced. The same EFCC is now AFRAID of BIG Thieves!”.
The EFCC reacted to the post, stating that the confiscation of the properties is in line with the laws but the name of the individual cannot be revealed because of the investigation is still ongoing.
The spokesman of the commission, Dele Oyewale, stated that it is unprofessional for EFCC to disclose the names of individuals whose names were not linked to the documents of the properties.
Oyewale said, “EFCC is following with keen interest, the flurry of reactions to its record-breaking recovery of 753 duplexes and other apartments on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja.
“The commentaries of reform-minded Nigerians to the Commission’s painstaking efforts in securing the final forfeiture of the Estate to the Federal Government of Nigeria, are appreciated.
“However, the denigration of such efforts by Omowole Sowore and his think-same and act-same, is unacceptable and grossly un-charitable.
“The allegation of cover up of the identity of the promoters of the Estate stands logic on the head in the sense that the proceedings for the forfeiture of the Estate were in line with Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act which is a civil proceeding that allows for action-in-rem rather than action-in-personam.
“The former allows legal actions against a property and not an individual, especially in a situation of an unclaimed property. This Act allows you to take up a forfeiture proceeding against a chattel that is not a juristic person. This is exactly what the Commission did in respect of the Estate.
“The proceedings that yielded the final forfeiture of the Estate were products of actionable intelligence available to the Commission.
“The company flagged by our investigations denied ownership of the Estate following publications made in leading national newspapers.
“On the basis of this, the Commission approached the court for an order of final forfeiture which Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court granted on Monday, December 2, 2024.
“The expectation of the EFCC from citizen Sowore is a patriotic appreciation of its efforts in securing such a landmark forfeiture. It is shocking that the activist is not concerned about the systemic lassitude and unhelpful permissiveness that allowed such a monstrous corrupt act in the first instance.
“Nigerians should gear up more against lapses and loopholes in our system that continue to make the nation vulnerable to corrupt tendencies. The EFCC will continue to safeguard the financial space of the nation against manipulators and organised brigandage.”