Tag: Court

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the permanent forfeiture of two plots of land originally intended for the Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Model Housing Estate to the Federal Government, following findings of alleged financial mismanagement in the stalled project. Justice Mohammed Umar handed down the ruling after upholding an application by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), directing that the forfeited properties be transferred to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to benefit Nigerians. The court also instructed the ICPC to supervise the completion of the abandoned housing estate in collaboration with the FMBN, ensuring that the 962 planned housing units are delivered to end users. The properties involved include Plot No. 5 in Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, Abuja, measuring approximately 122,015.80 square metres and valued at N1.94 billion, and Plot No. 4 in the same district, measuring around 157,198.30 square metres and valued at N3.34 billion. Justice Umar stated that the lands were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity and must be recovered in the public interest. “The ICPC shall facilitate the handover of the forfeited properties to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, being the victim of the alleged unlawful activity,” he said. The judge directed the ICPC and FMBN to form an implementation committee to oversee the completion of the housing project and ensure its allocation to Nigerians, particularly low-income earners. According to the ICPC, the housing estate was approved in 2012 under the National Housing Fund Scheme during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. It was intended to provide 962 affordable housing units. An affidavit by ICPC investigator Iliya Marcus stated that FMBN engaged Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited to execute the project and secured a $65 million loan facility from Ecobank. Investigations revealed that the bank released N3.78 billion to the developer in November 2012 and later disbursed the full project amount of $65 million (over N14 billion at the time) without any houses being constructed. The developer reportedly lacked proper registration with the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, a requirement for such projects, and the project collapsed. The ICPC also noted intelligence suggesting that the developers were attempting to sell the land secretly to unsuspecting members of the public, prompting the commission to approach the court to secure the assets. Justice Umar had previously granted interim forfeiture of the lands on July 9, pending the outcome of the substantive case. Notices were also published in national newspapers to give interested parties the chance to object. At the final hearing, ICPC counsel Osuobeni Akponimisingha told the court that the project, which was meant to honor former President Jonathan, remained abandoned despite full payment to the developer. He added that the land’s value had risen to over N200 billion and that the promoters, including some foreign nationals, had fled the country. The defence counsel, Hassan Liman (SAN), did not oppose the forfeiture. Justice Umar, in granting the final order, described the release of the full project funds without any progress as a serious abuse of public trust. He ruled that the forfeiture was necessary to protect public assets and ensure the housing project is completed for Nigerians.