President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has received briefings from the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, on the management and disposal of houses seized by the anti-graft agency.

The meeting took place at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday, with the Presidency confirming that discussions focused on the handling of seized houses nationwide under principles of transparency and accountability.

The development places the management of recovered properties within a broader conversation about how assets recovered from corruption investigations should be handled once they come under government control.

FG Reviews Management of Seized Properties

The Presidency did not disclose details of the individual properties discussed or announce that any specific houses had been sold.

Instead, the meeting focused on the management and disposal of houses seized nationwide by the EFCC.

This distinction is important because recovered properties can remain under government control for a period before the necessary legal and administrative processes for disposal are completed.

The government has previously transferred recovered housing assets to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for management.

One notable example is a 753-unit housing estate in Abuja recovered from former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, which the EFCC handed over to the Housing Ministry in May 2025.

Transparency at the Centre of Disposal Process

The Presidency said the management and disposal process would be guided by transparency and accountability.

That is particularly important when dealing with properties recovered through financial-crime investigations because the assets represent public-interest recoveries.

A transparent disposal process would help establish how properties are valued, who can purchase them, how sales are conducted and how proceeds are accounted for.

It could also reduce concerns about recovered assets being transferred or sold below their market value.

Housing Assets Could Have Wider Impact

The involvement of the Housing Ministry also raises a broader question about how recovered residential properties can contribute to Nigeria’s housing needs.

Rather than viewing seized houses only as assets to be sold, government could potentially consider how some properties can support existing housing programmes, depending on their legal status and applicable government policy.

This could be particularly relevant in Abuja and other major cities where housing demand remains high and property prices continue to rise.

However, any decision to retain, convert, transfer or sell recovered properties would need to comply with the relevant legal and asset-disposal procedures.

Earlier Recovery of 753 Housing Units

The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development previously took delivery of the 753-unit Abuja estate recovered by the EFCC from Emefiele. The handover was part of efforts to place recovered housing assets under the management of the housing authorities.

The estate provides an example of the potential scale of residential assets that can enter government control through asset-recovery processes.

Its eventual use or disposal therefore has implications beyond the recovery of proceeds from financial crimes.

The Bigger Housing Question

The latest meeting highlights an important issue for Nigeria’s housing sector: what should government do with residential properties recovered through corruption investigations?

Selling them could generate revenue for government, while retaining or integrating some properties into housing programmes could potentially expand the available housing stock.

Either approach requires clear valuation, transparent procedures and public accountability.

For the housing sector, the most important issue will be ensuring that recovered properties are not allowed to become another category of underutilised or abandoned government assets.

The Tinubu administration’s review therefore creates an opportunity to establish a clear framework for managing recovered housing assets, while ensuring that the public interest remains central to their eventual disposal or utilisation.

The post EFCC, Housing Ministry Brief Tinubu on Seized Houses appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has intervened in a dispute involving the alleged unauthorised sale of a property belonging to late Cross River State governorship candidate and elder statesman, Chief Wilfred Oden Inah.

The intervention follows petitions from members of the deceased’s family over the alleged sale of the property located at No. 63 Ibom Layout, Calabar, which they insist was not approved by all beneficiaries.

EFCC Invites Eldest Son Over Property Sale

Sources said the EFCC invited the first son of the deceased, Mr. Maurice Inah, to explain the circumstances surrounding the transaction.

He was reportedly questioned over the sale of the property, which was allegedly transferred to Mr. Emmanuel Emele for about ₦100 million.

According to family sources, Maurice was later detained but has since failed to return for further questioning, reportedly citing health challenges as reason for his absence.

Family Dispute Over Alleged Unauthorized Sale

Members of the Inah family have accused Maurice of selling the property without collective consent, insisting that the transaction violated their late father’s wishes regarding the estate.

One of the sons, Mr. Ofem Inah, described the sale as unacceptable, claiming the property was significantly undervalued.

“Our father’s position on the property was clear… it was to remain in the family and was not to be sold,” he said.

He alleged that the property—comprising a block of four flats and surrounding land—was valued between ₦300 million and ₦400 million, making the reported sale price questionable.

‘We Want Justice’ — Family Demands Reversal

Another sibling, Mrs. Mildred Ikheloa (née Inah), called for justice, insisting that their father’s wishes must be respected.

She demanded the reversal of the transaction and refund of the buyer’s payment, stating that due process was not followed.

“The money paid should be refunded to the buyer, and the property returned to the family,” she said.

EFCC Yet to Issue Official Statement

When contacted, Mr. Maurice Inah neither confirmed nor denied the allegations, describing the matter as a family issue and promising to provide clarification later.

The EFCC has yet to issue an official statement on the matter as investigations continue.

The post EFCC Intervenes in Alleged Illegal Sale of Late Cross River Politician’s Property appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of a United Kingdom property linked to late former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jeremiah Useni, to the Federal Government.

Delivering the ruling on Tuesday, Justice Binta Nyako granted a motion filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), which argued that the property was acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.

The property, located at No. 79 Randall Avenue, Neasden, London, had earlier been placed under an interim forfeiture order on November 20, 2025. The CCB subsequently published a public notice inviting interested parties to contest the action, but no claims were filed.

Court Case and Legal Grounds

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2333/2025, listed the administrators of Useni’s estate and the property itself as respondents.

Counsel to the CCB, Sufyan Ahmad, relied on provisions of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022 and the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to justify the application for final forfeiture.

Investigation Findings

Investigations by the bureau’s Financial Investigation and Forensic Accounting Unit revealed that Useni’s declared earnings during his time in public office could not account for the acquisition of the London property.

Authorities said the discrepancy pointed to the likelihood that the asset was funded through undeclared or illicit sources.

UK Tribunal Confirms Ownership

Further strengthening the case, a United Kingdom tribunal — the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) — ruled in case REF/2023/0155 that Useni was the beneficial owner of the property.

The tribunal found that the property had been purchased using a fictitious identity to conceal ownership. Claims by individuals, including one “Ms Tali Shani” and a lawyer, were dismissed after the court determined that the supporting documents were fraudulent.

Court Ruling

Justice Nyako held that the forfeiture aligns with the interest of justice and supports Nigeria’s legal framework for recovering proceeds of unlawful activities.

The ruling effectively transfers ownership of the UK property to the Federal Government of Nigeria, marking another step in ongoing efforts to strengthen asset recovery and anti-corruption enforcement.

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