The Federal Government has unveiled plans to carry out structural and technical evaluations on 753 duplexes confiscated from the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, as part of an anti-corruption initiative.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, announced the move on Wednesday during a joint inspection tour of the estate, located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, alongside EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede.
The property, covering over 150,000 square meters, was formally handed over to the ministry by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, following a final forfeiture order issued by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court on December 2, 2024.
Dangiwa said the housing units, once certified structurally sound, would be made available for sale to the public through the Renewed Hope Portal, part of the Tinubu administration’s affordable housing program.
“The integrity test is crucial,” the minister noted. “We intend to ensure these homes are safe and ready before listing them. This is part of President Tinubu’s commitment to transparency and the fight against corruption.”
He lauded the EFCC for what he called a “landmark recovery,” citing the swift and coordinated efforts leading to one of the country’s most notable real estate seizures in recent history.
Olukoyede, meanwhile, addressed lingering public doubts about the estate’s existence, pointing out that earlier public awareness was based solely on aerial imagery.
“We brought the media and stakeholders here today to make it clear that this estate is real, and it’s now under government control,” the EFCC boss stated, reiterating the agency’s dedication to public accountability.
Plans are underway to incorporate the recovered properties into the National Social Housing Programme, aligning with Tinubu’s vision for widespread access to affordable housing.
However, civil society voices are already urging caution. Pelumi Olajengbesi, a human rights lawyer based in Abuja, has called on the federal government to create an independent oversight body to manage the allocation process of the duplexes.
Olajengbesi proposed that the committee include representatives from civil society, estate valuers, legal professionals, EFCC officials, and faith leaders, to prevent potential abuses of power.
“Transparency is not negotiable,” he said. “We must avoid the pattern of recovered assets ending up with politically connected individuals. This must serve the Nigerian people, not a privileged few.”
He praised Olukoyede’s leadership at the EFCC, describing it as a refreshing change in approach, but warned that consistent oversight remains necessary even after the handover.
“The job isn’t finished once the keys are handed over. Continued EFCC scrutiny is vital to ensure these homes go to deserving citizens and not recycled through back channels,” he added.
The estate’s eventual integration into national housing initiatives is expected to support broader goals of providing shelter, reducing housing deficits, and demonstrating the dividends of anti-corruption reforms.
