The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, handed over 753 units of houses recently recovered by the commission in Abuja to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
Its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said that the EFCC chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, handed over the property to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, during a brief ceremony in Abuja.
He said the property was located at Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 Units of duplexes and other apartments.
According to him, the property was recovered based on a final forfeiture order granted by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court Abuja on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024.
While handing over the property, Olukoyede reiterated the commitment of the EFCC to accountable asset recovery and disposal modalities.
He said such gestures were meant to demonstrate to Nigerians that whatever proceeds of crime they recovered in the course of the agency’s work would be made transparent to Nigerians.
According to him, the commission would not allow looted assets to be looted again.
“It is important for us to emphasise to Nigerians that the fight against corruption can work and we can really make it work.
“One of the key factors that actually propels the impact of the fight is the need for us to ensure that those who have stolen our commonwealth are not allowed to enjoy the proceeds of crime.
“So one of the critical factors of our works is that we deprive them of the proceeds of the crime.”
He lauded President Bola Tinubu’s stance on the fight against corruption.
READ ALSO: Pure water sachets, pet bottles not included in ban on SUPs -Lagos
The EFCC spokesman affirmed that the handover of the property signalled the government’s seriousness to the fight against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.
Dangiwa at a brief handing over ceremony in the ministry praised the EFCC for its sustained commitment to asset recovery and anti-corruption.
The minister stated that the exercise was a “significant milestone in our collective efforts and determination to ensure that recovered assets are put to productive use in ways that directly benefits the Nigerian people.”
He assured that the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development would conduct a joint familiarization tour of the estate, alongside the EFCC to properly access the structural state of the Estate.
Source: NAN