The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of two expansive plots of land originally designated for the Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Model Housing Estate, following allegations that the properties were used as proceeds of unlawful activity.
Justice Mohammed Umar delivered the ruling while hearing a motion filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), represented by counsel Osuobeni Akponimisingha. The defense, led by Hassan Liman (SAN), did not raise any objections to the motion.
In his ruling, Justice Umar directed the ICPC, acting on behalf of the Federal Government, to supervise the construction of 962 residential housing units on the forfeited lands. The exercise is to be carried out in collaboration with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), which the court identified as the victim of the alleged unlawful activity. A joint committee between ICPC and FMBN was mandated to oversee the project and ensure the units are ultimately allocated to the intended beneficiaries.
The forfeited properties include Plot No. 5, Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, Abuja, measuring approximately 122,015.80 square metres and valued at N1.94 billion, as well as Plot No. 4 in the same zone, measuring about 157,198.30 square metres and valued at N3.34 billion.
The court noted that the plots were initially allocated by the Federal Capital Territory Administration for the construction of residential units under the National Housing Fund Scheme through the FMBN. The project, approved on July 30, 2012, was to be executed by Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited with a loan facility of $65 million from Ecobank.
However, investigations by the ICPC revealed that despite full payment of the project funds, including a N3.78 billion drawdown in November 2012, no construction took place, and the developer allegedly attempted to sell the land to unsuspecting members of the public.
Justice Umar, who had earlier granted an interim forfeiture on July 9, 2025, emphasized the need to protect public assets and ensure that the project benefits low-income earners as intended. The court’s final forfeiture order now allows the ICPC and FMBN to take control of the properties and ensure the housing estate’s completion.
The ruling is seen as a significant step toward recovering public funds and safeguarding housing projects allocated under the National Housing Fund Scheme.