Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is the owner of a large estate in Abuja, consisting of 753 duplexes, which were recently forfeited to the Nigerian government through a court ruling. The decision, handed down on Monday, marks a significant move by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its ongoing fight against corruption.
The revelation about the estate came from human rights activist and convener of the RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore. Sowore, who was also a former presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 elections, confirmed the news via a post on his Twitter account. “I just heard from the grapevine that the 753 duplexes forfeited by an FCT court in Apo belong to Muhammadu Buhari’s CBN gov, Godwin Emefiele,” Sowore wrote, shedding light on the controversial asset recovery.
Sowore’s post sparked a wave of reaction, as he criticized the EFCC’s handling of high-profile corruption cases. He accused the agency of failing to hold the “big thieves” accountable, suggesting that the EFCC has become more of a public relations tool for the powerful elite. “The EFCC is now afraid of big thieves and has become their public relations officer,” Sowore stated, implying that those with political influence have been able to escape justice.
The EFCC, in its official release, confirmed the forfeiture of the estate, calling it the largest asset recovery in the Commission’s history since its inception in 2003. The estate, which sits on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09 in Lokogoma District, Abuja, spans an impressive 150,500 square meters. It contains 753 duplexes and various other apartment units, all of which are now under government control.
This asset forfeiture follows ongoing investigations into Emefiele’s activities during his tenure as the CBN governor. While details of the allegations remain under wraps, the seizure of the estate marks a major step in the efforts to tackle corruption and financial mismanagement in Nigeria. The ruling is seen as a victory for the EFCC, which has long been criticized for its handling of high-profile cases.
Sowore’s social media post questioned the identity of the “former top brass” involved, drawing attention to the scale of the asset forfeiture. He called attention to the sheer size and value of the estate, asking, “What is the name of the ‘former top brass’ with 753 duplexes seized by the EFCC in Abuja?”
