FG to Sell 753 Duplexes Seized from Former CBN Governor Emefiele

The Federal Ministry of Housing has announced that Nigerians will soon have the chance to buy homes in a large housing estate with 753 duplexes in Abuja. This estate was originally connected to former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele and was taken by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC officially handed the property over to the Ministry on Tuesday.

The Ministry’s Press Officer, Salisu Haiba, said the handover happened at the Ministry’s office in Abuja. Officials in the housing sector have asked that the sale of these homes be open and fair so the houses do not end up in the wrong hands again.

The Minister of Housing, Ahmed Dangiwa, thanked the EFCC for working hard to recover stolen assets. He said this handover is an important step to make sure recovered properties help ordinary Nigerians. The Ministry and EFCC will inspect the estate to check the buildings and infrastructure like roads, fences, drainage, and security before selling.

The Ministry plans to sell the houses to the public and also for government use. They will use a fair process that includes advertising across the country and allowing people to show interest online through the Renewed Hope Portal.

EFCC Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede said this handover shows the government’s strong fight against corruption. The estate is located in Lokogoma, Abuja, on a large piece of land with many apartments. The EFCC will keep watching how the Ministry finishes the estate and will report progress to the President.

Court papers say Emefiele and his partners bought the estate using money from illegal kickbacks during his time as Central Bank Governor. The court ruled in December 2024 that the estate was bought with illegal money and ordered it forfeited. Emefiele tried to get the property back but the court rejected his request in April 2025.

Experts in the housing industry support the plan to sell the estate publicly but want to make sure it is done fairly. They hope the houses will go to people who really need them, not government officials or connected individuals.

One construction CEO suggested changing the large duplexes into smaller units to create more affordable homes before selling. This way, the money from sales could be used to build even more low-cost houses.

Others warned that the sale should be open so that only the public benefits, not a few rich people. They stressed the need for honesty and fairness in the whole process.

This effort to turn seized property into homes for Nigerians struggling to find affordable housing is a positive step. But success depends on keeping the sale transparent and fair for everyone.