The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the permanent forfeiture of two plots of land allocated for the Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Model Housing Estate to the Federal Government, following findings of alleged financial misconduct in the stalled project.
Justice Mohammed Umar delivered the ruling after upholding an application by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), directing that the properties be handed over to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) for the benefit of Nigerians.
The court also instructed the ICPC to supervise the completion of the abandoned housing estate in collaboration with the FMBN, ensuring that the originally planned 962 housing units are delivered to end users.
The forfeited plots include Plot No. 5 in Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, Abuja, measuring about 122,015.80 square metres and valued at N1.94 billion, and Plot No. 4 in the same district, measuring approximately 157,198.30 square metres and valued at N3.34 billion.
Justice Umar stated that the lands were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity and must be recovered in the public interest. “The ICPC shall facilitate the handover of the forfeited properties to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, being the victim of the alleged unlawful activity,” he said.
The judge also directed the ICPC and FMBN to form a joint implementation committee to oversee the completion of the housing project and ensure the units are allocated to Nigerians, particularly low-income earners.
According to the ICPC, the housing estate was approved in 2012 under the National Housing Fund Scheme during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, intended to provide 962 affordable units. An affidavit by ICPC investigator Iliya Marcus stated that FMBN engaged Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited for the project and secured a $65 million loan facility from Ecobank.
Investigations revealed that the bank paid an initial N3.78 billion to the developer in November 2012 and later disbursed the full project cost of $65 million (over N14 billion at the time) without any houses being built. The developer reportedly lacked proper registration with the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, and the project collapsed.
The ICPC also reported intelligence that the developers were planning to sell the land secretly to unsuspecting buyers, prompting the commission to approach the court to secure the assets.
Justice Umar had previously granted interim forfeiture of the lands on July 9, pending the final determination of the case. Notices were published in national newspapers inviting interested parties to contest the forfeiture.
At the final hearing, ICPC counsel Osuobeni Akponimisingha told the court that the project, intended to honor former President Jonathan, remained abandoned despite full payment to the developer. He noted that the current value of the land had risen to over N200 billion and that the developers, including some foreign nationals, had reportedly fled the country.
The defence counsel, Hassan Liman (SAN), did not oppose the forfeiture. Justice Umar described the release of the full project funds without any progress as a serious abuse of public trust and ruled that the forfeiture was necessary to protect public assets and ensure the housing project is completed for Nigerians.