The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a notice of appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered the release of 27 properties linked to businessman James Ikechukwu Okwete and his firm, Jamec West Africa Limited.
The appeal, filed at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/348/2025, challenges the decision delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on 31 October 2025.
In a statement released on Thursday, EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said the commission’s counsel, Abba Mohammed (SAN), expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling, which vacated an interim forfeiture order and dismissed the agency’s bid for the final forfeiture of the assets.
Oyewale said the commission is seeking two orders from the appellate court.
The statement partly read, ‘The EFCC has filed a Notice of Appeal against a judgment of Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordering the release of 27 houses to James Ikechukwu Okwete and his company, Jamec West Africa Limited.
‘In a NOTICE OF APPEAL filed at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/348/2025, the Commission expressed dissatisfaction with the decision of the trial court delivered on 31 October 2025, on the matter.
‘EFCC counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, sought two orders of the Court of Appeal on the matter:
‘First, an order of this Honourable Court staying execution of the judgment of the trial court delivered on 31 October 2025, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal filed on 1 December, 2025, against the judgment.
Second, such other orders as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances’.
He added that the appeal is currently awaiting a hearing date.
The dispute dates back to 13 March, when the EFCC secured an ex parte interim forfeiture order on the 27 properties, located in different parts of the country.
The court ordered the commission to publish the order within 14 days to enable interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Following a publication on 4 April, Okwete and Jamec West Africa Limited laid claim to 26 of the assets, while another claimant, Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo, asserted ownership of a property at No. 12, Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja.
They subsequently opposed the EFCC’s move for the final forfeiture of the properties.
In her 31 October judgment, Justice Abdulmalik upheld the objections, dismissed the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture, vacated the interim order, and directed the commission to release the properties to their owners.
On 3 December, it was also reported that the Federal High Court warned the EFCC chairman about the consequences of failing to comply with the judgment, following claims that the commission had not fully obeyed the directive.
