Court orders release of 27 properties wrongly seized by EFCC

A federal high court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately release 27 properties earlier seized under an interim forfeiture order obtained by the anti-graft agency.

Joyce Abdulmalik, the presiding judge, gave the order while delivering judgement in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/348/2025, filed by the EFCC.

The commission had secured an ex parte interim forfeiture order on March 13, claiming the properties were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.

After the order was published in the Punch newspaper on April 4 as directed by the court, James Ikechukwu Okwete and his firm, Jamec West African Limited, claimed ownership of 26 of the properties.

Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo also declared interest in House No. 12, Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja.

The trio filed affidavits to show cause and opposed the EFCC’s application for a final forfeiture order.

In a judgement delivered on October 31, Abdulmalik upheld their objections, dismissed the EFCC’s bid for final forfeiture, and vacated the interim forfeiture order.

The judge ruled that the evidence presented supported the owners’ claims.

“I firmly find that the property owner/respondent’s (Okwete’s) affidavit to show cause has merit,” she held.

On Oladapo’s claim, the court noted that the EFCC raised no objection.

“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 the 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 set aside the interim order and directed the EFCC to hand over the properties without delay.

“Without more, I forthwith set aside and vacate in its entirety the interim order of forfeiture granted on 13th March 2025… Accordingly, I order the immediate release of the aforementioned properties/its documents to the property owner/respondent and the House No: 12 Fandriana Close… to Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo, respectively.”

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

‘EFCC REFUSING TO OBEY COURT ORDER’

Despite the ruling, lawyers for Okwete and Jamec West Africa Ltd say the EFCC has refused to comply.

In a November 27 letter addressed to the EFCC chairman, Serekowei Larry, the lawyer, accused the commission of “blatantly disobeying” the judgement.

“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,” the letter reads.

Larry noted that the judgement was delivered in the presence of EFCC’s legal team on October 31, noting that certified copies were served on the commission on November 14.

He added that officials of the federal high court enforcement unit visited the EFCC on November 26 to execute the judgement but were not given the documents.

“In straight words, your office refused to do so, thereby blatantly disobeying the said judgement, which in its penultimate paragraph used the words ‘the immediate release’,” he wrote.

Larry warned that disobedience of court orders undermines the rule of law.

“In any regime, talk less of a democracy, it will be the height of it if judgments of court are blatantly disobeyed. We, however, want to believe that you are not aware of what happened, hence this letter,” he added.

He said the property owners expect “positive reactions within a reasonable time before we take further steps”.