The Federal Ministry of Housing has announced plans to auction a 753-unit duplex estate in Abuja, previously linked to former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele.
The estate was seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations that it was acquired with illicit funds.
The estate, located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, was officially handed over to the Ministry of Housing on Tuesday. The Ministry plans to conduct a joint inspection with the EFCC to assess the estate’s condition and determine the cost and scope of completing roads, drainage, and other infrastructure.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, commended the EFCC’s asset recovery efforts and described the estate as a clear example of the government’s commitment to using recovered assets for public benefit. “This marks a significant milestone in our collective determination to ensure that recovered assets are put to productive use in ways that directly benefit the Nigerian people,” Dangiwa said.
The housing units will be sold transparently to both the public and for government use, with advertisements placed nationwide and applications managed via the Renewed Hope Portal. “The ministry will offer the units for sale both to the public and for special government needs. For the public sale component, we will adopt a transparent and competitive process,” Dangiwa added.
EFCC Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede said the handover shows the government’s commitment to accountability and the fight against corruption. “It is important for us to demonstrate to Nigerians that whatever proceeds of crime that we have recovered in the course of our work, the application of that will be made transparent to Nigerians,” he said.
According to court records, Emefiele and his associates allegedly acquired the estate using kickbacks from forex allocations and contract awards during his time at the CBN. The Federal Capital Territory High Court granted a final forfeiture order in December 2024, and Emefiele’s attempt to reclaim the estate was dismissed in April 2025.
The Ministry plans to carry out a detailed technical review to determine the cost and scope of completing the estate’s infrastructure. The specific prices for the duplexes have not yet been disclosed.
