Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has called on the Federal Government to establish an independent committee to oversee the disbursement of 753 duplexes recently recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and handed over to the Federal Ministry of Housing.
The EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, had on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, officially handed over the 753 housing units located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa.
The estate, covering 150,500 square metres and consisting of duplexes and other apartments, was recovered following a final forfeiture order issued on December 2, 2024, by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
In a statement on Wednesday, Olajengbesi called for the establishment of an independent committee comprising certified estate valuers, auditors, civil society organisations, respected activists, lawyers, religious leaders, dedicated EFCC officers, and officials of the Housing Ministry to guarantee an equitable and transparent disbursement process.
He said, “Special commendation to the EFCC boss Ola Olukoyede for his transparent and selfless disposition in the recovery of loot so far.
“However, the work of the anti-graft agency is not done with the handover to the Ministry of Housing. Given the intractable corruption and lack of transparency and accountability that has become an ugly trademark in most ministries of government, the EFCC should painstakingly monitor the allocation of the recovered loot. This would go a long way to ensuring that cronies of government officials are not the only ones who would usurp the recovered duplexes
“Also, an independent committee should be set up to include certified estate valuers, auditors, civil society organisations, respected activists, lawyers, religious leaders, diligent EFCC officers and officials of the Housing Ministry. This is to ensure high-level transparency and accountability in the process.”
The lawyer warned that without a transparent process, the disbursement of the houses could be manipulated to benefit only the cronies of government officials.
He emphasised the need for continued EFCC oversight even after the official handover to the Ministry of Housing.
“Given the intractable corruption and lack of transparency and accountability that has become an ugly trademark in most ministries of government, the EFCC should painstakingly monitor the allocation of the recovered loot.
“This would go a long way in ensuring that cronies of government officials are not the only ones who would usurp the recovered duplexes,” he said. Duplexes by asolocoaso: 10:14am
Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has called on the Federal Government to establish an independent committee to oversee the disbursement of 753 duplexes recently recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and handed over to the Federal Ministry of Housing.
The EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, had on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, officially handed over the 753 housing units located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa.
The estate, covering 150,500 square metres and consisting of duplexes and other apartments, was recovered following a final forfeiture order issued on December 2, 2024, by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
In a statement on Wednesday, Olajengbesi called for the establishment of an independent committee comprising certified estate valuers, auditors, civil society organisations, respected activists, lawyers, religious leaders, dedicated EFCC officers, and officials of the Housing Ministry to guarantee an equitable and transparent disbursement process.
He said, “Special commendation to the EFCC boss Ola Olukoyede for his transparent and selfless disposition in the recovery of loot so far.
“However, the work of the anti-graft agency is not done with the handover to the Ministry of Housing. Given the intractable corruption and lack of transparency and accountability that has become an ugly trademark in most ministries of government, the EFCC should painstakingly monitor the allocation of the recovered loot. This would go a long way to ensuring that cronies of government officials are not the only ones who would usurp the recovered duplexes
“Also, an independent committee should be set up to include certified estate valuers, auditors, civil society organisations, respected activists, lawyers, religious leaders, diligent EFCC officers and officials of the Housing Ministry. This is to ensure high-level transparency and accountability in the process.”
The lawyer warned that without a transparent process, the disbursement of the houses could be manipulated to benefit only the cronies of government officials.
He emphasised the need for continued EFCC oversight even after the official handover to the Ministry of Housing.
“Given the intractable corruption and lack of transparency and accountability that has become an ugly trademark in most ministries of government, the EFCC should painstakingly monitor the allocation of the recovered loot.
“This would go a long way in ensuring that cronies of government officials are not the only ones who would usurp the recovered duplexes,” he said.
