*Court orders release of 27 houses wrongly seized by commission

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, has revealed of an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Malami made the revelation in a post on his personal Facebook page.

The senior lawyer, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, however assured of his willingness to appear before the anti-graft agency.

“I am informing my family and friends that EFCC has invited me to clarify on some issues, and as a citizen of law and order and patriot, I am willing to honor this invitation without any hesitation.

“I believe in the importance of honesty, integrity and honesty in leadership — these are principles I’ve long supported and uphold, over the years I’ve spent in public service.

“On this note, I am informing Nigerians of any development that will follow, so that everyone will be aware of what is going to go back to because of his current life and history,” the post read.

Meanwhile, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the EFCC to immediately release 27 houses wrongly seized by the commission.

She made the order while delivering judgment in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/348/2025, and filed by the anti-graft agency.

The commission had, on March 13 obtained an interim forfeiture order against the 27 properties which it claimed were acquired from proceeds of unlawful acts.

Following its publication of the interim forfeiture order in the Punch newspaper of April 4 as ordered by the court, James Ikechukwu Okwete and his company, Jamec West African Limited claimed ownership 26 of the properties, while Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo showed interest in House No: 12 Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja.

Okwete, Jamec Ltd and Oladapo objected to EFCC’s subsequent application for final forfeiture of the properties and, in a judgment on October 31, Justice Abdulmalik upheld their objection, dismissed EFCC’s application for final forfeiture; vacated the earlier order for interim forfeiture and ordered the commission to immediately release the properties.

The judge held that based on her analysis of the evidence presented before her, “I firmly find that the property owner/respondent’s (Okwete’s) affidavit to show cause has merit.

“Additionally, I hold in favour of the Adebukunola lyabode Oladapo being person interested in House No: 12 Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja, FCT, that since the learned senior counsel for the applicant (EFCC) has informed court that it has no objection to her affidavit to show cause, that her affidavit filed to show cause, stands substantiated in its entirety.

“Without more, I forthwith set aside and vacate in its entirety the interim order of Forfeiture granted on March 13, 2025 to the applicant in respect of the properties listed in the schedule attached to the applicant’s ex-parte originating motion.

“Accordingly, I order the immediate release of the aforementioned properties/its documents to the property owner/respondent and the House No: 12 Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja, FCT to Adebukunola lyabode Oladapo respectively.

“In that vein, the applicant’s motion for final forfeiture along with the corresponding responses filed are now otiose. I so hold,” Justice Abdulmalik said.

However, lawyer to Okwete and Jamec Ltd, Serekowei Larry (SAN) has written to the Chairman of the EFCC complaining about the commission’s alleged failure to comply with the judgment.

The November 27 letter written by Larry on behalf of Okwete and Jamec Ltd reads: “We write as counsel to Mr. James Okwete and his company ~ Jamec West Africa Ltd ‘the property owners,’ to formally apprise you of the events that have followed this case since 31th October, 2025 when judgment was given against you.

“As indicated above, judgment was given by the Federal High Court, coram: Hon. Justice Joyce O. Abdulmalik on October 31, 2025 in presence of your counsel, led by Maryam Hayatudeen Esq.

“On November 14, 2025, the judgment order was served on your good office and nothing was done to obey it.

“On November 26, 2025, the Federal High Court through its Enforcement Unit, led by Mrs. Lilian Amenger, proceeded to your office to execute the judgment which simply required your office to hand over the title documents of the properties, subject matter of the suit to the officials of the court,

“In straight words, your office refused to do so, thereby blatantly disobeying the said judgment which in its penultimate paragraph used the words, ‘the immediate release.’

“In any regime, talk less of a democracy, it will be the height of it, if judgments of court are blatantly disobeyed. We however, want to believe that you are not aware of what happened, hence this letter.

“We anticipate your positive reactions within reasonable time before we take further steps.”

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