Abuja: The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an application by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to temporarily take over lands approved for the Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Model Housing Estate. Justice Mohammed Umar approved the application after ICPC’s lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, moved a motion ex-parte.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Justice Umar held that the interim forfeiture of the multi-billion naira assets approved by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) shall remain pending until the hearing and determination of the substantive suit. The anti-corruption agency, in the motion ex-parte marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1124/2025, listed FMBN as the sole respondent.
The ICPC sought an order to temporarily forfeit Plot No. 5 and Plot No. 4 in Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, Abuja, with the respective land areas and values specified. These lands were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity. The commission also sought an order to take over and secure the said immovable properties to prevent their conversion to personal use or sale to unsuspecting members of the public.
Giving 14 grounds for the application, the agency argued that the alleged assets were allocated by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for constructing 962 residential housing units via the FMBN. An affidavit deposed by ICPC officer Iliya Marcus revealed an intelligence report indicating FMBN’s engagement of a private developer to construct these units under the National Housing Fund Scheme.
Marcus detailed that the FMBN requested and received approval to commence construction on July 30, 2012, with a framework agreement established with Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited earlier that year. A consultant was appointed to monitor the project and report on milestones for payment purposes. However, investigation showed that despite a $65 million loan facility secured from Ecobank Limited and a significant sum paid to Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited, no construction had begun.
The ICPC’s investigation further revealed clandestine moves by the property developer to sell off the immovable property, which could complicate recovery efforts. Marcus stressed that without the court’s intervention, the land could see the same fate as the mismanaged funds.
During the hearing, Akponimisingha informed the court that the lands were part of a housing project initiated during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and intended to honor him. Despite receiving substantial funds, no houses had been constructed, and the project promoters are allegedly unreachable.
Justice Umar, granting the interim forfeiture, questioned the rationale behind disbursing the entire project sum without tangible progress. The court has adjourned the matter until October 27 for a compliance report.