The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a stern warning to the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the commission’s alleged continued refusal to comply with a court order directing the immediate release of 27 properties earlier seized by the agency.
The warning was contained in a Form 48 (Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Court Order) issued on Tuesday and addressed directly to the EFCC Chairman.
The notice, sighted by Our Heritage Reporters, cautioned that failure to comply with the October 31, 2025 judgment would constitute contempt of court.
According to the notice, the commission has yet to release the property title documents to the owners despite being served with the court order.
The notice read in part:
“Take notice that unless you obey the direction contained in the order of the Federal High Court made on 31st October 2025, ordering the immediate release of the property documents, you will be guilty of contempt of court.”
The EFCC had secured an interim forfeiture order on March 13, 2025, covering 27 properties located across the country.
The court directed that the order be published to allow interested parties to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Following publication in The Punch on April 4, James Ikechukwu Okwete, his company Jamec West Africa Ltd, and another claimant, Adebukunola Iyabode Oladapo, contested the forfeiture, asserting ownership of the properties.
In a judgment delivered on October 31, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik upheld the objections, vacated the interim forfeiture order, dismissed the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture, and ordered the immediate return of all properties to their rightful owners.
Justice Abdulmalik held that.
“The affidavit to show cause filed by the property owners has merit.”
She further ruled that the EFCC must release the title documents for all 27 properties, including House 12, Fandriana Close, Wuse II, Abuja.
Despite this, counsel to Okwete and Jamec Ltd, Serekowei Larry (SAN), said the EFCC has refused to comply.
In a letter dated November 27, Larry alleged that officials of the court’s Enforcement Unit visited the EFCC office on November 26 to enforce the judgment but were denied access to the title documents.
Larry described the alleged refusal as “blatant disobedience” of a lawful court order and warned of the dangerous implications for the rule of law. He wrote:
“In any regime, especially a democracy, the height of lawlessness is to disobey court judgments.
We hope this happened without your knowledge.”
The claimants say they expect the EFCC to obey the court order immediately or face further legal consequences.
