How EFCC accidentally found receipt for roofing of buildings, exposed Emefiele’s 753-duplex Estate

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officers found a receipt for payment for roofing of the Abuja 753- duplex Estate in the home of former Central Bank governor, Godwin Emefiele, during a search in his Lagos State home.

This discovery was said to have exposed Emefiele and is being regarded as single largest asset recovery since the Commission was established in 2003.

The EFCC initially declined to disclose specific details before SaharaReporters exlcusively reported that Emefiele owned the 753 duplexes recovery.

The estate rests on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja.

SaharaReporters in an update reports that a top source in the EFCC revealed how the sprawling estate was linked to Emefiele.

“There was no document linking him to the ownership of the estate. Our operatives only found a receipt for ordering roofing. It was found during a search on his Lagos home led by EFCC investigators,” the source revealed.

Emefiele is standing trial on several charges bordering on corruption, including in the new naira redesign before the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

Justice Maryann Anenih had adjourned the matter till December 4, 2024, and January 21, 2025, for continuation of trial.

Omoyele Sowore, owner of SaharaReporters, had earlier knocked the EFCC, for refusing to name the former Nigerian “top brass” who owned the large estate in Abuja with 753 duplexes.

Sowore, also a former presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general elections, had noted on Monday that the EFFC was afraid of big thieves and had become their public relations officer.

In an update, the human rights activist had said, “I just heard from the grapevine that the 753 duplexes forfeited by an FCT court in Apo belong to Muhammadu Buhari’s CBN gov, Godwin Emefiele.”

Ruling on the Commission’s application for the final forfeiture of the property, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that the respondent has not shown cause  as to why he should not lose the property, “which has been reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities, the property is hereby finally forfeited to the federal government.”