A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately release 27 houses wrongly seized by the commission.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order while giving a judgment in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/348/2025 filed by the EFCC.The EFCC had, on March 13, obtained an ex-parte interim forfeiture order against the 27 properties which it claimed were acquired from proceeds of unlawful acts, which it published on April 4.However, James Ikechukwu Okwete and his company, Jamec West African Limited, claimed ownership of 26 of the properties, while Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo showed interest in House No 12 Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Okwete, Jamec Ltd and Oladapo objected to EFCC’s subsequent application for final forfeiture of the properties and, in a judgment on October 31, Justice Abdulmalik upheld their objection, dismissed EFCC’s application for final forfeiture; vacated the earlier order for interim forfeiture and ordered the commission to immediately release the properties.
In the October 31 judgment, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik said based on her analysis of the evidence presented before the court, “I firmly find that the property owner/respondent’s (Okwete’s) affidavit to show cause has merit.
“Additionally, I hold in favour of the Adebukunola lyabode Oladapo being person interested in House No: 12 Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja, FCT, that since the learned senior counsel for the applicant (EFCC) has informed court that it has no objection to her affidavit to show cause, that her affidavit filed to show cause, stands substantiated in its entirety.”
