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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has kept Nigerians in the dark by failing to disclose the identity of the ex-government official from whom it forfeited an estate, prompting a backlash from Nigerians on social media.
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On Monday evening, the EFCC announced on X (formerly Twitter) via its official handle that it had seized an estate containing 753 units of duplexes and other apartments, measuring 150,500 square meters, situated in Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja.
The commission described this asset recovery as the “single largest asset recovery” since its establishment in 2003.
The commission failed to disclose the identity of the former government official from whom it seized this asset, instead describing him as “a former top brass of the government.”
“The forfeiture of the property to the federal government by a former top brass of the government was pursuant to EFCC’s mandate and policy directive of ensuring that the corrupt and fraudulent do not enjoy the proceeds of their unlawful activities.
“In this instance, the Commission relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to push its case,” EFCC’s post read in part.
The application for the final forfeiture of the asset was ruled and granted by Justice Onwuegbuzie, who held that the “top brass” government official, whose identity the EFCC withheld, showed no cause as to why he should not lose the property. The judge added that the ex-government official was suspected of acquiring the estate with the proceeds of unlawful activities.
The EFCC added that it is investigating the government official who fraudulently built the estate.Nigerians Knock EFCC
Many Nigerians on X have criticised the EFCC for withholding the identity of this former government official, noting that in the past, the commission had published the names of over 60 undergraduates of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) who were arrested following a midnight raid on their hostels in 2023. The commission made the details of these students available online, even before profiling had been completed.
Ridwan Oke, a lawyer, was one of the X users who criticised the commission for failing to reveal the identity of the former government official.
He wrote, “You have final forfeiture, but you still wouldn’t name the individual involved? If it is young boys arrested in their OAU hostel, you will post their pictures when you have nothing substantial on them.”
Segun Oladejo, another lawyer, shared Oke’s opinion. Oladejo wrote on Monday:“Top Brass abi top gun? You can plaster innocent people’s faces and names on the internet but can’t name this individual. Continue with your comedy.”
Some other X users are speculating that the unnamed “top brass” official is Godwin Emefiele, the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor.
It has been 14 hours since the EFCC posted this statement. Although there are speculations that Godwin Emefiele is the “top brass” the commission referred to, the EFCC has yet to make an official statement regarding this.
Guardian
