Former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore has criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for withholding the identity of a former government official whose 753 duplexes in Abuja were recently forfeited to the federal government.
The EFCC announced on Monday that the property, located on a 150,500-square-meter estate in the Lokogoma District of Abuja, was seized following a ruling by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court. Described as the agency’s largest single asset recovery since its inception in 2003, the forfeited estate includes duplexes and other apartments.
However, the identity of the property’s owner was notably absent from the EFCC’s statement.
Sowore Demands Accountability
Reacting to the development on his official Facebook page, Sowore accused the EFCC of shielding high-profile individuals involved in corruption.
“What is the name of the ‘former top brass’ with 753 duplexes seized by the EFCC in Abuja?” Sowore wrote. “The EFCC is now doing PR for thieves. If it is Yahoo boys, they will line laptops and Nokia phones in front of them and send their photos globally even before their trial is commenced. The same EFCC is now afraid of BIG thieves!”
Sowore’s remarks highlight a perceived double standard in how the anti-graft agency handles cases involving politically connected individuals versus less prominent offenders.
EFCC Under Scrutiny
The EFCC has faced growing calls for transparency in its operations, particularly in high-profile corruption cases. While the agency hailed the recovery of the estate as a significant victory, critics like Sowore argue that concealing the owner’s identity undermines public confidence in its commitment to tackling corruption.