A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a final order for the permanent forfeiture of two expansive plots of land originally approved for the Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Model Housing Estate to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Court Grants ICPC's Final Forfeiture Request
Presiding Judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, granted the application filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Thursday, December 11, 2025. The court directed that the forfeited properties be handed over to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), which was the sole respondent in the case.
Justice Umar mandated that the supervision of the housing project must be conducted in collaboration with the FMBN. This oversight is to ensure the completed housing units are ultimately allocated to and utilized by bona fide end-users, aligning with the project's original intent.
Details of the Forfeited Abuja Lands
The court's final forfeiture order covers two prime plots located in the Kaba District of Abuja's Cadastral Zone D12. The combined value of the forfeited land is a staggering N5,284,875,000 (Five Billion, Two Hundred and Eighty-Four Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand Naira).
The first property is Plot No. 5, measuring approximately 122,015.80 square metres and valued at N1,944,375,000. The second is Plot No. 4, covering about 157,198.30 square metres with an estimated value of N3,340,500,000.
In its ruling, the court stated that the lands were "suspected of being proceeds of unlawful activity." The ICPC initiated the case, revealing that the estate project was conceived during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Committee to Oversee Project Completion
Further to the forfeiture, the court issued specific directives to ensure the housing project is completed for public benefit. Justice Umar ordered the ICPC and the FMBN to establish a joint committee to oversee the completion of the legacy estate.
As reported by Premium Times, the membership of this oversight committee is to be drawn from both agencies. Their primary mandate will be to supervise the project through to its finalization, ensuring it serves its intended purpose of providing housing for Nigerians.
The court order explicitly states: "An order is hereby made directing the applicant, through the ICPC, to facilitate the handover of the forfeited properties to the respondent, i.e., Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, being the victim of the alleged unlawful activity."
Context of Recent High-Profile Asset Forfeitures
This ruling occurs within a broader context of significant asset recoveries by Nigerian anti-graft agencies. Recall that earlier in December 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered a massive estate in Abuja's Lokogoma District.
That estate, located on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, measures 150,500 square metres and contains 753 units of duplexes. It was linked to a former top government official. On Monday, December 2, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie ordered the forfeiture of that estate to the federal government.
The EFCC has since officially handed over the 753-unit complex, formerly owned by ex-Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. The ministry commended the EFCC's recovery efforts and pledged to put the properties to productive use for the benefit of Nigerians.
These successive forfeitures have sparked public reactions, with many citizens expressing scepticism about the management of such recovered assets. There are widespread calls for transparency and a firm commitment that the homes will benefit ordinary, needy Nigerians rather than being reallocated to political elites.
The final forfeiture of the Goodluck Jonathan Estate lands marks a decisive step by the judiciary and anti-corruption bodies to reclaim public assets and direct them towards national development goals.
