A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the final forfeiture of 52 terrace and maisonette housing units located in the Lekki area of Lagos to the Federal Government.
Justice Alexandra Owoeye delivered the ruling on Wednesday, affirming an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2.
The properties, situated at Mercyville Estate, Covenant Way, off New Road, Ilasan, Lekki, were recovered from Fielddreams Limited, Ifeanyi Nweke and Amex Savings and Loans Limited.
The EFCC, represented by its counsel, Franklin Ofoma, told the court that the commission had complied with an earlier directive requiring publication of the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper to allow anyone with an interest in the properties to contest the application.
The interim forfeiture had initially been granted on August 14, 2024, by Justice Akintayo Aluko following an ex parte application filed by the anti-graft agency.
After the publication, the respondents filed documents opposing the final forfeiture. However, the EFCC argued that their affidavits contained contradictory claims regarding the source of funds used to develop the estate.
According to the commission, the respondents first claimed the project was financed through proceeds from the sale of 29 housing units worth ₦1.9 billion. They later changed their position, alleging that several buyers had failed to complete payments for the units—an explanation the EFCC said conflicted with their earlier statement that construction and furnishing had already been completed in 2020.
The anti-corruption agency also informed the court that the second respondent, Ifeanyi Nweke, is a fugitive facing criminal charges and has repeatedly failed to appear in court despite existing warrants for his arrest. The EFCC further stated that Nweke allegedly violated the conditions of administrative bail previously granted to him.
In its ruling, Justice Owoeye held that the inconsistencies in the respondents’ affidavit made their evidence unreliable, leading the court to reject their opposition to the forfeiture application.
The judge ruled that the EFCC had established reasonable grounds to believe the properties were proceeds of unlawful activities and was therefore entitled to the relief sought.
Consequently, the court granted the application for the final forfeiture of the 52 housing units to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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