Court Warns EFCC Chairman Over Non-Compliance With Order to Release Seized Properties

A Federal High Court in Abuja has put the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on notice that he risks contempt proceedings for allegedly refusing to comply with a judgment delivered on October 31, 2025. The court had ordered the immediate release of 27 houses the EFCC seized on suspicion that they were purchased with proceeds of crime, but the owners successfully challenged the forfeiture.

The caution was contained in a Form 48 issued on Tuesday by the court’s registrar and addressed directly to the EFCC Chairman. The notice, sighted on Wednesday, warned that continued non-compliance with the judgment could lead to sanctions for contempt of court.

The document reads in part, “Take notice that unless you obey the direction contained in the order of the Federal High Court, made on 31st October 2025, which ordered you to immediately release the property documents to the property owners/respondents in suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/348/2025, you will be guilty of contempt of court.” The court noted that as of December 2, the EFCC had yet to release the documents.

The properties were placed under interim forfeiture on March 13 after the EFCC secured an ex parte order and was directed to publish the order within fourteen days for interested parties to show cause. Following the publication in The PUNCH on April 4, James Ikechukwu Okwete and his company, Jamec West African Limited, claimed ownership of twenty-six properties, while Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo asserted interest in House No. 12, Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja.

Both parties opposed the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture. In her October 31 judgment, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik upheld their objections, vacated the interim forfeiture order, dismissed the EFCC’s application, and directed the commission to release the properties without delay. She ruled that Okwete’s affidavit to show cause had merit and affirmed Oladapo’s claim after the EFCC said it had no objection to her affidavit.

Justice Abdulmalik stated, “Without more, I forthwith set aside and vacate in its entirety the interim order of forfeiture granted on 13th March 2025.” She ordered the release of all property documents to the rightful owners, making the EFCC’s motion for final forfeiture “otiose.”

Despite the clear directive, lawyers representing the owners say the EFCC has failed to act. In a letter dated November 27, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Serekowei Larry informed the EFCC Chairman that the judgment order was served on November 14 but went unacknowledged. He added that officials from the court’s Enforcement Unit visited the EFCC on November 26 to execute the judgment, but were “refused compliance,” despite the judgment’s use of the phrase “the immediate release.”

Larry warned that disobeying court orders undermines the rule of law, stating, “In any regime, talk less of a democracy, it will be the height of it, if judgments of the court are blatantly disobeyed.” He expressed hope that the Chairman was unaware of the refusal and said his clients expected a prompt response before taking further steps.