The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately release 27 houses that were wrongfully seized by the commission.
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Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order while delivering judgment in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/348/2025 filed against the EFCC.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC had, on March 13, obtained an ex parte interim forfeiture order against the 27 properties, claiming they were acquired from proceeds of unlawful acts.
Following the publication of the interim forfeiture order in a national daily on April 4, as ordered by the court, James Ikechukwu Okwete and his company, Jamec West African Limited, approached the court.
Okwete and his company claimed ownership of 26 of the properties, while Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo showed interest in House No. 12, Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Okwete, Jamec Ltd., and Oladapo objected to the EFCC’s subsequent application for final forfeiture of the assets.
Meanwhile, Justice Abdulmalik, in a judgment delivered on October 31, upheld the objection, dismissed EFCC’s application for final forfeiture, and vacated the earlier interim forfeiture order. She consequently ordered the commission to immediately release the properties.
Justice Abdulmalik stated, based on her analysis of the evidence presented before the court, “I firmly find that the property owner/respondent’s (Okwete’s) affidavit to show cause has merit.
“Additionally, I hold in favour of Adebukunola Oladapo, being a person interested in House No. 12, Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja, FCT, that since the learned senior counsel for the applicant (EFCC) has informed the court that it has no objection to her affidavit to show cause, her affidavit stands substantiated in its entirety.
“Without more, I forthwith set aside and vacate in its entirety the interim order of forfeiture granted on 13th March, 2025, to the applicant in respect of the properties listed in the schedule attached to the applicant’s ex parte originating motion.
“Accordingly, I order the immediate release of the aforementioned properties and their documents to the property owner/respondent and House No. 12, Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja, FCT, to Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo, respectively.
“In that vein, the applicant’s motion for final forfeiture, along with the corresponding responses filed, are now otiose. I so hold,” Justice Abdulmalik said.
However, the lawyer to Okwete and Jamec Ltd., Serekowei Larry, SAN, has written to the EFCC Chairman complaining about the commission’s alleged failure to comply with the judgment.
In a letter dated November 27, the lawyer urged the commission to immediately comply with the court order.
The letter reads in part:
“We write as counsel to Mr. James Okwete and his company, Jamec West Africa Ltd, the property owners, to formally apprise you of the events that have followed this case since 31st October, 2025, when judgment was given against you.
“As indicated above, judgment was delivered by the Federal High Court, coram: Hon. Justice Joyce O. Abdulmalik, on Friday, 31st October, 2025, in the presence of your counsel, led by Maryam Hayatudeen Esq.
“On 14th November, 2025, the judgment order was served on your office, and nothing was done to comply with it.
“On 26th November, 2025, the Federal High Court, through its Enforcement Unit led by Mrs. Lilian Amenger, proceeded to your office to execute the judgment, which required your office to hand over the title documents of the properties, subject matter of the suit, to the officials of the court.
“In plain words, your office refused to do so, thereby blatantly disobeying the judgment, which in its penultimate paragraph used the words ‘the immediate release.’
“In any regime, let alone a democracy, it would be the height of recklessness if judgments of the court are blatantly disobeyed.
“We, however, want to believe that you are not aware of what happened, hence this letter.
“We anticipate your positive response within a reasonable time before we take further steps.”
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