Many Abandoned Estates in Abuja Owned by Civil Servants, Discloses EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that a significant number of abandoned estates scattered across Abuja are owned by serving and retired civil servants.

The commission raised the alarm over the disturbing trend, which it said is linked to widespread corruption in the public sector.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede disclosed that the estates many of which remain unoccupied or incomplete are the product of fraudulent financial activities, particularly by individuals on the government payroll.

He noted that the EFCC has intensified investigations into suspicious property acquisitions, many of which are traced to public officials attempting to conceal ill-gotten wealth through real estate.

“We have discovered a worrying pattern where career civil servants, people whose legitimate earnings cannot justify such assets are linked to massive housing developments that end up deserted,” Olukoyede said.

The anti-graft boss noted that this has contributed to urban blight, waste of infrastructure, and distorted housing economics in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He added that the EFCC would not only go after such properties but also ensure they are lawfully forfeited and repurposed for public interest.

He further stressed the need for institutional reforms, transparency in property registration, and inter-agency collaboration with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Ministry of Housing to curb the abuse of Abuja’s real estate sector.

This revelation comes months after the commission secured the final forfeiture of a 753-unit estate in Lokogoma, Abuja allegedly linked to former top officials and handed it over to the Federal Ministry of Housing for redistribution under the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme.

Analysts say this latest warning underscores the need for a thorough audit of real estate ownership in Abuja, particularly within highbrow areas like Maitama, Asokoro, and Guzape, where several luxurious buildings have remained uninhabited for years.

EFCC has urged Nigerians to provide intelligence on suspicious properties, reiterating its commitment to curbing illicit financial flows and asset concealment through the housing sector.