A Federal High Court in Abuja has cautioned the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the possible repercussions of his alleged ongoing refusal to obey its October 31 ruling, which ordered the immediate return of 27 houses the agency purportedly seized on the assumption that they were bought with illicit funds.
The warning appears in a Form 48 issued on Tuesday by the court’s Registrar and addressed directly to the EFCC’s Executive Chairman. The document was obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday.
The notice states: “To the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of Plot 301/302, Institute and Research Cadastral District, Jabi, Abuja.
“Take notice that unless you obey the direction contained in the order of the Federal High Court, made on 31st October, 2025, which ordered you to immediately release the property documents to the property owners/respondents in suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/348/2025, you will be guilty of contempt of court.
“A copy of the said order of court, which was earlier served on you, is hereby annexed for ease of reference.
“This court has been informed that even as of today, Tuesday, 2nd December, 2025, you are yet to comply with the lawful order of the Federal High Court by refusing to release the property documents to the property owners/respondents.
“You are hereby directed to comply with the order forthwith or you will be guilty of contempt of court.”
On March 13, the EFCC had secured an ex parte interim forfeiture order against the 27 properties located across Nigeria, with the court instructing the agency to publish the order within 14 days so that any interested parties could explain why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
After the interim forfeiture order was published in The Punch on April 4, James Ikechukwu Okwete and his company, Jamec West African Limited, claimed ownership of 26 of the properties, while Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo asserted interest in House No. 12, Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Okwete, Jamec Ltd., and Oladapo later opposed the EFCC’s push for final forfeiture.
Delivering judgment on October 31, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik accepted their objections, dismissed the EFCC’s application for permanent forfeiture, lifted the interim forfeiture order, and instructed the agency to release the properties to their rightful owners.
In her decision, Justice Abdulmalik wrote that based on the available evidence, “I firmly find that the property owner/respondent’s (Okwete’s) affidavit to show cause has merit.”
She also ruled in favour of Oladapo, stating: “Additionally, I hold in favour of the Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo being a person interested in House No: 12 Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja, FCT, that since the learned senior counsel for the applicant has informed the court that it has no objection to her affidavit to show cause, that her affidavit filed to show cause, stands substantiated in its entirety.”
The judge further declared: “Without more, I forthwith set aside and vacate in its entirety the interim order of forfeiture granted on 13th March 2025 to the applicant in respect of the properties listed in the schedule attached to the applicant’s ex parte originating motion.
“Accordingly, I order the immediate release of the aforementioned properties/its documents to the property owner/respondent and the House No: 12 Fandriana Close, Wuse 2, Abuja, FCT to Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo, respectively.
“In that vein, the applicant’s motion for final forfeiture, along with the corresponding responses filed, are now otiose. I so hold.”
In the meantime, Serekowei Larry (SAN), lawyer to Okwete and Jamec Ltd., has written to the EFCC Chairman, raising concerns about the agency’s alleged refusal to carry out the judgment.
In his November 27 letter, Larry wrote for his clients: “We write as counsel to Mr James Okwete and his company ~ Jamec West Africa Ltd, the property owners,’ to formally apprise you of the events that have followed this case since 31st October, 2025, when judgment was given against you.
“On 14th November, 2025, the judgment order was served on your good office, and nothing was done to obey it.”
He added that on November 26, officials from the court’s Enforcement Unit visited the EFCC office to enforce the judgment requiring release of the title documents, but “your office refused to do so, thereby blatantly disobeying the said judgment, which in its penultimate paragraph used the words, ‘the immediate release.’”
Larry further cautioned: “In any regime, talk less of a democracy, it will be the height of it, if judgments of the court are blatantly disobeyed. We, however, want to believe that you are not aware of what happened, hence this letter.”
He noted that his clients expect a favourable response from the EFCC Chairman before they pursue further action.
