The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), are locked in a heated exchange over the ownership of 753 duplexes recently seized by the commission.
Sowore had previously accused the EFCC of shielding the identity of the owner of the properties, alleging that they belonged to Godwin Emefiele, the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
In response, the EFCC issued a strongly worded statement via its official Facebook page, titled “Sowore and Co-Travellers’ Tantrums against EFCC’s Landmark Recovery.” The commission defended its actions and criticized Sowore’s remarks as baseless and unpatriotic.
According to the EFCC, the forfeiture of the properties, located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, followed a court-approved process under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act. This law permits action against unclaimed properties, rather than specific individuals, in civil proceedings.
The EFCC explained that investigations revealed no ownership links to any individual or company, prompting the commission to seek a final forfeiture order, which was granted by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on December 2, 2024.
The commission also emphasized its commitment to transparency and its ongoing investigation into the case. It stated that naming individuals not directly linked to the properties’ title documents would be premature and unprofessional.
The EFCC called for Nigerians to support its anti-corruption efforts rather than criticize its achievements. “The systemic lapses that allowed such corrupt practices to thrive need to be addressed collectively,” it said.
Sowore, however, dismissed the EFCC’s statement as “reckless and irresponsible.”
Writing in the comment section of the EFCC’s Facebook post, he alleged that court documents and an affidavit from an EFCC investigator implicated Emefiele in the real estate fraud. Sowore accused the commission of attempting to cover up the involvement of Emefiele and other collaborators.
He added, “The EFCC is doing a disservice to Nigerians by not revealing the truth. I will share court documents to expose this cover-up.”
The clash has sparked public debate about the EFCC’s handling of high-profile cases and the transparency of its anti-corruption efforts.
