Court cautions Olukoyede over failure to release 27 properties wrongly seized by EFCC

A federal high court in Abuja has cautioned Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over his alleged refusal to comply with a subsisting judgement ordering the immediate release of 27 properties earlier seized by the commission.

The warning is contained in a Form 48, a notice of the consequences of disobedience to a court order, issued on Tuesday and addressed to the EFCC chairman.

“Take notice that unless you obey the direction contained in the order of the Federal High Court, made on 31st October, 2025, which ordered you to immediately release the property documents to the property owners/respondents in suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/348/2025, you will be guilty of contempt of court,” the notice reads.

“A copy of the said order of court which was earlier served on you is hereby annexed for ease of reference.

“This court has been informed that even as at today, Tuesday, 2nd December, 2025 you are yet to comply with the lawful order of the Federal High Court by refusing to release the property documents to the property owners/respondents.

“You are hereby directed to comply with the order forthwith or you will be guilty of contempt of court.”

BACKGROUND

On March 13, the EFCC secured an interim forfeiture order on 27 properties located in different parts of the country.

The court directed the commission to publish the order within 14 days to allow any interested party to appear and justify ownership.

The interim order was published in The Punch of April 4.

Subsequently, James Ikechukwu Okwete and his company, Jamec West African Limited, laid claim to 26 of the properties, while Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo declared interest in House No. 12, Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja.

They all opposed the commission’s application for the final forfeiture of the assets.

In a ruling on October 31, Joyce Abdulmalik, presiding judge of the high court, upheld the objections, dismissed the EFCC’s bid for final forfeiture, vacated the interim order, and directed the agency to immediately return the properties.

The judge held that Okwete’s affidavit has merit and further ruled in favour of Oladapo, noting that the EFCC did not oppose her claim.

“I hold in favour of the Adebukunola lyabode Oladapo being person interested in House No: 12 Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja, FCT, that since the learned senior counsel for the applicant (EFCC) has informed court that it has no objection to her affidavit to show cause, that her affidavit filed to show cause, stands substantiated in its entirety,” the judge said.

The judge then vacated the forfeiture order in full.

“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,” she ruled.

“Accordingly, I order the immediate release of the aforementioned properties/its documents to the property owner/respondent and the House No: 12 Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja, FCT to Adebukunola lyabode Oladapo respectively.”

Abdulmalik added that the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture had become “otiose.”

The property owners also wrote to the EFCC chairman on November 27, alleging continued disobedience of the court order.