Omoyele Sowore, the Nigerian activist and founder of Sahara Reporters, has launched a scathing attack on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after the agency claimed to have secured a landmark recovery of 753 duplexes and other properties in Abuja.
Sowore, known for his sharp criticisms of the Nigerian government and its agencies, has obtained court documents that he claims expose misleading statements made by the EFCC in its press release. The EFCC had recently announced the forfeiture of a large real estate estate located on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, to the Nigerian government.
EFCC’s Press Statement Ignites Controversy
In a press release issued on December 3, 2024, the EFCC defended its actions, highlighting the final forfeiture of the property to the Federal Government, which had been obtained after thorough investigations. The commission accused Sowore of making “reckless and irresponsible” statements regarding the matter.
The EFCC emphasized that the forfeiture of the estate was a result of actionable intelligence and an investigation into a potential real estate fraud. The statement also defended the absence of individual names being revealed, stressing that the law only allowed for action against the property, not specific individuals.
Dele Oyewale, Head of Media & Publicity for the EFCC, stated, “The expectation of the EFCC from citizen Sowore is a patriotic appreciation of its efforts in securing such a landmark forfeiture. It is shocking that the activist is not concerned about the systemic lassitude and unhelpful permissiveness that allowed such a monstrous corrupt act in the first instance.”
Sowore’s Counterattack: Exposing the Truth
However, Sowore was quick to react, labeling the EFCC’s press release as a deliberate attempt to cover up the involvement of certain key figures in the property’s ownership. In a post on social media, Sowore shared court documents, including an affidavit from an EFCC investigator, which allegedly named the individuals behind the real estate fraud. He emphasized that the EFCC’s failure to identify these individuals in its official statements suggested a cover-up.
“This is the most reckless and irresponsible statement I’ve read from a government agency in a long while,” Sowore stated. “The assertions here are also patently irresponsible. I have obtained court proceedings and an affidavit sworn to by an EFCC investigator who named the names of those behind this real estate fraud.”
He continued, “I maintain that referring to the person @GodwinIEmefiele smacks of an attempt to cover up his misdeeds and those of his collaborators; the truth is that the court proceedings tell otherwise.” Sowore’s comments point to Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as a possible figure involved in the fraud.
Sowore further criticized the EFCC for not fully disclosing the identities of the individuals allegedly involved in the scam. “I will attach some court documents here so the public can see the @officialEFCC’s disservice in this matter,” Sowore said, insisting that transparency was crucial for upholding justice.
The Court Case and Forfeiture Order
The EFCC’s press release highlighted that the final forfeiture of the estate was ordered by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on December 2, 2024. According to the EFCC, the company that had initially been flagged in the investigation denied ownership of the property.
The EFCC went ahead with a civil proceeding under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, which allows the seizure of unclaimed or suspicious properties. Despite this legal process, Sowore has raised doubts about the true ownership of the estate and the lack of clarity in the EFCC’s actions.
The Broader Implications of the Allegations
Sowore’s release of the court documents, which he claims reveal critical information, has added fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding the EFCC’s handling of the case. Critics of the commission have expressed concerns about the lack of transparency and the agency’s tendency to focus on property rather than individuals in its investigations. Sowore himself has repeatedly accused Nigerian authorities of covering up high-profile cases of corruption. His latest comments on the EFCC’s actions suggest that he believes
