The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) an interim order to seize two large plots of land earmarked for the Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Model Housing Estate. The order, issued by Justice Mohammed Umar, followed a motion ex parte filed by ICPC counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha.
The interim forfeiture will remain in effect pending the outcome of a substantive case regarding the ownership and use of the land. The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) was named as the sole respondent in the motion, filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1124/2025.
The ICPC requested the temporary forfeiture of:
- Plot No. 5, Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, Abuja (approx. 122,015.80m²), valued at ₦1.94 billion.
- Plot No. 4, Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, Abuja (approx. 157,198.30m²), valued at ₦3.34 billion.
The commission argued that the land parcels were proceeds of unlawful activities and should be secured to prevent unauthorized sale or conversion for personal use. The ICPC also asked the court to direct it to publish a public notice inviting any interested parties to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
According to a sworn affidavit by ICPC officer Iliya Marcus, the land was allocated by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for the construction of 962 low-cost housing units, to be financed through the National Housing Fund Scheme. The FMBN had partnered with Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited to execute the project under a framework agreement signed on January 27, 2012.
Despite receiving full project funding—a $65 million loan from Ecobank, along with ₦3.78 billion disbursed in naira—the developer reportedly failed to construct even a single housing unit. The ICPC’s investigation revealed that the developer was not registered with the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), a requirement before any such payment could be made.
The affidavit further stated that intelligence reports indicated attempts by Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited to covertly sell the undeveloped land to unsuspecting buyers. ICPC warned that allowing such transactions would make future recovery of the property nearly impossible.
When the case was heard on Wednesday, Akponimisingha told the court that although the estate was meant to honor former President Goodluck Jonathan, no development had occurred on the site. He noted that the property’s current estimated value exceeds ₦200 billion and claimed that key promoters of the company, including some foreign nationals, have since absconded and remain unreachable.
The ICPC lawyer emphasized that although the developer is currently facing prosecution in a separate court case, the forfeiture proceedings are distinct and intended to preserve public assets.
Justice Umar granted the interim forfeiture order and questioned the rationale behind the full disbursement of project funds without any tangible progress. The court adjourned the case to October 27, 2025, for a compliance report.
