The 753 housing units that were seized from former Governor Godwin Emefiele of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would be made available for sale to Nigerians, according to the Federal Government.
Following a joint team’s physical site inspection of the closed housing estate led by Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, and Olanipekun Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development released a statement revealing the development.
After being connected to Emefiele, the estate was retrieved by the EFCC in December 2024 and formally turned over to the Ministry at President Bola Tinubu’s direction.
During the inspection, Dangiwa announced that the Ministry would immediately commence its technical assessments by conducting integrity tests on the buildings.
Upon successful evaluation, the structures will be completed and made available for sale to Nigerians through the Renewed Hope Portal, which is already operational.
The Minister emphasised the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, calling on public office holders to steer clear of corrupt practices.
“The government of the day is serious about fighting corruption,” he stated, while commending the EFCC and its leadership for what he described as a landmark recovery—one of the most significant in the nation’s history within such a short span of time.
Dangiwa also urged Nigerians to maintain trust in the EFCC and support its efforts toward achieving more recoveries for the benefit of the public.
Speaking at the event, EFCC’s Chairman Olukoyede clarified that what Nigerians had previously seen on television was merely an aerial view of the estate.
“The essence of this visit is to show that it is real,” he said, underscoring the transparency and accountability that guide the commission’s actions.
According to the EFCC, it is the largest single asset recovery since the agency’s inception in 2003. It covers over 150,000 square metres and includes duplexes and other apartment types.
The estate was recovered following a final forfeiture order issued on December 2, 2024, by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
In April 2025, Emefiele approached an FCT High Court in a bid to reclaim the estate, which had already been forfeited to the government.
He accused the EFCC of deliberately concealing the forfeiture proceedings from him, despite frequent interactions with the agency regarding other pending charges.
His application was, however, dismissed by the court.
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