A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the final forfeiture of 52 terrace and maisonette units located in Lekki to the Federal Government.
Justice Alexandra Owoeye delivered the ruling on Wednesday in respect of the properties situated at Mercyville Estate, Covenant Way, off New Road, Ilasan, Lagos. The properties were recovered from Fielddreams Limited, Ifeanyi Nweke and Amex Savings and Loans Limited.
The order followed a motion filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel, Franklin Ofoma.
The EFCC had earlier secured an interim forfeiture order on August 14, 2024 National before Justice Akintayo Aluko, who also directed the Commission to publish the order in a national newspaper, inviting interested parties to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited.
In response, the respondents opposed the application, arguing that the estate was financed with proceeds from the sale of 29 housing units valued at ₦1.9 billion.
However, the court observed inconsistencies in their affidavit evidence. While the respondents initially claimed that construction of the estate had been completed in 2020, they later stated that several of the housing units were still unfinished.
Arguing the case, EFCC counsel Franklin Ofoma informed the court that the Commission had complied with the publication order and maintained that the properties were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
He further told the court that the second respondent, Ifeanyi Nweke, was a fugitive facing criminal charges, had jumped administrative bail and was the subject of two outstanding warrants of arrest.
In her ruling, Justice Owoeye held that the contradictions in the respondents’ affidavit evidence rendered it unreliable, noting that the court could not determine which version of their claims to believe.
The judge consequently rejected the respondents’ affidavit evidence and granted the EFCC’s application, ordering the final forfeiture of the 52 terrace and maisonette units to the Federal Government.
