Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of 52 Lekki Housing Units To FG

A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the final forfeiture of 52 terrace and maisonette units in Lekki to the Federal Government.

Justice Alexandra Owoeye gave the order on Wednesday in respect of the properties located at Mercyville Estate, Covenant Way, off New Road, Ilasan, Lagos, which were recovered from Fielddreams Limited, Ifeanyi Nweke and Amex Savings and Loans Limited.

The order followed a motion filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel, Franklin Ofoma.

The EFCC had earlier secured an interim forfeiture order on August 14, 2024, before Justice Akintayo Aluko, who also directed the Commission to publish the order in a national newspaper for interested parties to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited.

The respondents challenged the application, claiming the development was financed with proceeds from the sale of 29 housing units valued at ₦1.9 billion.

However, the court noted contradictions in their affidavits, with the respondents later alleging that several of the units had not been completed despite earlier claims that construction was completed in 2020.

Arguing the case, EFCC counsel said the Commission had complied with the publication order and maintained that the properties were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

He also told the court that the second respondent, Ifeanyi Nweke, was a fugitive facing criminal charges, had jumped administrative bail and was subject to two outstanding warrants of arrest.

In her ruling, Justice Owoeye held that the contradictions in the respondents’ affidavit evidence rendered it unreliable, saying the court could not choose which version to believe.

She consequently rejected the respondents’ affidavit and granted the EFCC’s application for the final forfeiture of the 52 housing units to the Federal Government.