The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the permanent forfeiture of two multi-billion naira plots of land allocated for the Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Model Housing Estate to the Federal Government.
The ruling, delivered by Judge Mohammed Umar on December 11, followed a request by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The judge directed that the ICPC, on behalf of the federal government, supervise the completion of the proposed 962 housing units in collaboration with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to ensure the homes reach intended beneficiaries.
The forfeited plots include:
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Plot 5, Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, Abuja – approximately 122,015.80 m², valued at ₦1.944 billion.
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Plot 4, Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, Abuja – approximately 157,198.30 m², valued at ₦3.341 billion.
The ICPC’s lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, moved the application, which was unopposed by the defence counsel, Hassan Liman SAN. Judge Umar also instructed the ICPC and FMBN to form a joint committee to oversee the project’s completion.
Background of the Case
The housing estate was part of a major federal housing initiative launched during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. The FMBN had engaged Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited to construct 962 residential units under the National Housing Fund Scheme, backed by a $65 million loan from Ecobank.
Investigations revealed that:
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The developer received $65 million (over N14 billion) from the FMBN, yet no housing units were constructed.
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Payments were made without verifying the developer’s registration with the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria.
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The developer allegedly attempted to sell the plots to unsuspecting members of the public.
An ICPC officer, Iliya Marcus, warned that without court intervention, the land could be lost, mirroring the way the project funds were dissipated.
Forfeiture Proceedings
The ICPC argued that the properties, now valued at over ₦200 billion, should be secured for public benefit and FMBN, as Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited and some associated foreign nationals were reportedly unreachable.
Judge Umar approved the interim forfeiture in July 2025, following an ex-parte motion by the ICPC, and later confirmed the permanent forfeiture in December 2025. The court also ordered the ICPC to ensure the proper utilization of the plots and completion of the housing units.
The forfeiture is part of broader efforts to prevent diversion of public resources and ensure accountability in federal housing projects.
