A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of two substantial parcels of land intended for the Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Model Housing Estate. Justice Mohammed Umar issued this ruling following a motion filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The court’s order comes after the defense counsel raised no objections. Justice Umar instructed the ICPC to oversee the completion of the proposed 962 housing units on the forfeited land in partnership with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), ensuring the units benefit their intended recipients.
The forfeited properties include Plot No. 5, Kaba District, valued at approximately N1.94 billion, and Plot No. 4, valued at about N3.34 billion, both of which were deemed suspected proceeds of unlawful activity.
The ICPC had previously obtained an interim forfeiture of the lands, citing intelligence reports about a private developer, Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited, being paid $65 million upfront for the project without any construction progress to show.
Despite the full disbursement of funds, investigations revealed that no housing units were constructed, and the developer was allegedly attempting to sell the land to unsuspecting buyers, prompting the ICPC to act to protect public assets.
Justice Umar has emphasized the need for accountability in public projects and directed the establishment of a joint committee between the ICPC and the FMBN to facilitate the project’s completion and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
This ruling aims to hold accountable those involved in the alleged financial irregularities and to safeguard the interests of low-income earners for whom the housing units were originally intended.
