The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed to Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the recovered 753 housing units traced to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele.
Penpushing reports that Head Media and Publicity of the commission Dele Oyewale, made this known in a statement explaining that the property was transferred to the Ministry by Chairman of the agency Ola Olukoyede on Tuesday
The statement disclosed that the estate comprises duplexes and other apartment units recovered with the backing of a final forfeiture order given on December 2, 2024 by the Federal High Court in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
Penpushing further reports that Olukoyede speaking during the handover of the keys to the Minister, Ahmed Dangiwa at the headquarters of the Ministry stressed that recovered assets would be repurposed for public benefit
“This gesture is to demonstrate to Nigerians that whatever proceeds of crime that we have recovered in the course of our work, the application of that will be made transparent to Nigerians so that we will not allow looted assets to be looted again,” he said.
Penpushing also reports that he emphasised that asset recovery is central to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC’s) anti-corruption strategy and reaffirmed the agency commitment to transparent and accountable asset recovery.
“One of the key factors that actually propels the impact of the fight is the need for us to ensure that those who have stolen our commonwealth are not allowed to enjoy the proceeds of crime. So one of the critical factors of our works is that we deprive them of the proceeds of crimes,” he added.
Penpushing reports that Olukoyede commended President Bola Tinubu’s stance on anti-corruption, and described the handover as a sign of the administration’s resolve to combat financial crimes.
The Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Salisu Haiba, in a statement confirmed receipt of the property at the ministry’s headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja.
‘The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has taken delivery of the 753 Housing Units Abuja housing estate of former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” the statement said.
Penpushing further reports that the Minister receiving the keys to the estate, praised the commission for what he called a significant milestone in the collective effort to fight corruption, adding that both the ministry and the agency would conduct a joint familiarisation tour of the estate to assess the current state of the estate.
‘We intend to carry out thorough integrity and structural assessments on all buildings and associated infrastructure to confirm their safety and suitability for habitation’, the Minister stated.
“The Ministry will offer the units for sale both to the public and for special government needs. For the public sale component, we will adopt a transparent and competitive process. This will include nationwide advertisement and the use of the Renewed Hope Portal where interested Nigerians can submit their Expressions of Interest’, Dangiwa added
Penpushing also reports that the Minister explained that the effort is to ensure that recovered assets are put to productive use in ways that directly benefit the Nigerian people.
“This marks a significant milestone in our collective determination to ensure that recovered assets are put to productive use in ways that directly benefit the Nigerian people. The housing estate recovered from the former Governor of the Central Bank is a case in point’, he said.
Penpushing reports that it is recalled that the estate, spanning 150,500 square metres, located on Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, was recovered and became the Nigerian government’s property after a court ordered its final forfeiture in December last year.
FOOTNOTE: You want to share story with us? You want to advertise with us? You need publicity for product, or service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348073463653 or email penpushing@yahoo.com
