The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has announced plans to auction 753 duplexes in Abuja that were seized from former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The property handover took place on Tuesday at the Ministry's headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja, according to a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the ministry, Salisu Haiba.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, described the handover as "a significant milestone in our collective determination to ensure that recovered assets are put to productive use in ways that directly benefit the Nigerian people."

The estate, located on Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, sits on a parcel of land measuring over 150,000 square meters. According to court documents filed by the EFCC, Emefiele and his associates allegedly acquired the estate using illicit funds obtained through kickbacks from foreign exchange allocations and contracts awarded during his tenure at the CBN.

Dangiwa announced that the ministry, in collaboration with the EFCC, will undertake a joint familiarization tour to assess the current state of the estate. "We intend to carry out thorough integrity and structural assessments on all buildings and associated infrastructure to confirm their safety and suitability for habitation," he explained.

The minister also detailed plans for a comprehensive technical evaluation to determine the cost and scope of completing the estate's infrastructure, including perimeter fencing, roads, drainage, security posts, shopping, and recreation centers.

"The ministry will offer the units for sale both to the public and for special government needs. For the public sale component, we will adopt a transparent and competitive process. This will include nationwide advertisement and the use of the Renewed Hope Portal where interested Nigerians can submit their Expressions of Interest," Dangiwa added.

EFCC Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, emphasized the importance of transparency in the disposal of recovered assets. "It is important for us to demonstrate to Nigerians that whatever proceeds of crime that we have recovered in the course of our work, the application of that will be made transparent to Nigerians so that we will not allow looted assets to be looted again," he stated.

Olukoyede revealed that the commission would continue to monitor the Ministry's efforts to complete the estate and would provide periodic reports to President Bola Tinubu.

The legal journey of the estate began in December 2024 when Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo granted a final forfeiture order, following an earlier interim forfeiture order in November 2024. Although Emefiele later filed a motion seeking to reclaim the estate, the court dismissed his application in April 2025, stating that due process was followed.

Housing sector stakeholders have called for transparency in the sale process. The Executive Secretary of the Association of Housing Corporation of Nigeria, Toye Eniola, lauded the public sale move but expressed concerns about the beneficiaries. "I hope it goes to the right public, and the right people who need houses. I hope these houses will not be sold to themselves and people in the government," he stated.

Adewunmi Okupe, CEO of Ace Hi-Tech Construction Co. Ltd., suggested that the houses should be remodeled into smaller units before sale. "The houses look so gigantic. Before they are sold, the houses should be remodeled into at least four new units each by the housing ministry. This will give us about 3,012 housing units," he recommended.

Seyi Amusan, CEO of Space Button Architecture, raised concerns about affordability. "Considering the mode of sales highlighted, which is proposed to be a transparent and competitive one, it's important to know if the actual value of each property would not be a factor during the sales," he said.

The specific prices at which the units will be sold have not been disclosed. The ministry aims to transform what was allegedly acquired through corruption into a resource for public benefit.