The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of two large plots of land originally set aside for the Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Model Housing Estate. The ruling was delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission filed a motion requesting the takeover of the properties.
The court granted the request without opposition from the defence counsel. Justice Umar directed that the lands be taken over on behalf of the Federal Government and that the housing project planned for the site should be completed under proper supervision.
The judge ordered the ICPC to work with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to ensure that the proposed 962 housing units are completed and eventually allocated to the intended beneficiaries. He also instructed both bodies to form a joint committee to manage the completion and implementation of the project.
The forfeited properties include Plot No. 5 and Plot No. 4 located in Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, Abuja. Together, the lands cover a large area and are valued at over N5 billion. The court declared the plots as assets linked to suspected unlawful dealings.
Justice Umar further ordered that the lands be handed over to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, which the court identified as the affected institution in the case. The ICPC was also directed to ensure that public interest is protected throughout the process.
The court recalled that it had earlier granted an interim forfeiture of the lands in July following an application by the ICPC. Investigations showed that the lands were allocated for a housing project under the National Housing Fund Scheme meant to serve low-income earners.
According to court documents, the Federal Mortgage Bank had engaged a private developer, Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited, and secured a $65 million loan for the project. However, investigations revealed that the full project funds were paid out without evidence of construction work on the site, and no housing units were completed.
The ICPC told the court that there were attempts to sell the land to members of the public, a move that could have blocked recovery efforts. The court said the forfeiture was necessary to protect public assets and ensure the housing project serves its original purpose.
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