4th December 2024, NewsOrient, News, Photo-News, Law And Society.

Tongues are still wagging over the identity of the owner (s) of the multi billion Naira 753 look-alike Duplexes the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently seized in Abuja.

But given the defences so far adduced by the anti graft agency, chances are that it may never willingly reveal the identity of the owner or owners of the prime property.

Notwithstanding acclaim that trailed EFCC’s efforts at securing forfeiture of the property for Nigeria, NewsOrient reports that critics had challenged EFCC to also reveal the identity of the owner or owners of the choice property, alleging huge cover up.

EFCC has therefore defended its decision not to reveal the identity of the owner(s) of 753 duplexes it seized, arguing that to secure total forfeiture of the property, the agency followed a legal procedure that allows it to sue the property without suing the owner of the property.

The agency’s Head of Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, in a statement on Tuesday denied allegation of cover-up on account of not revealing the identity of the owner or owners of the seized duplexes.

He explains instead that the agency followed “Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, which is a civil proceeding that allows for action-in-rem rather than action-in-personam.

“The former allows legal actions against a property and not an individual, especially in a situation of an unclaimed property.

“This Act allows you to take up a forfeiture proceeding against a chattel that is not a juristic person. This is exactly what the Commission did in respect of the Estate,” he said.

Given this explanation, it seems the identity of the owner of the property may remain a secret for a long time as EFCC may never agree to reveal the identity of the owner or owners of the multi billion Naira 753 duplexes it seized in Abuja.

Photo Credit/Source: Channels Television

~ NewsOrient

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