By Patrick Idowu
Nigerians on social media have called for greater transparency from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after the agency failed to reveal the identity of the individual behind a large estate in Abuja that was recently forfeited to the government.
On Monday, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie issued a final forfeiture order for the estate located in the Lokogoma District.
The estate spans 150,500 square meters and consists of 753 duplexes and various flats.
However, the EFCC’s announcement only referred to the asset’s former owner as a “former top brass of government,” without disclosing their identity.
This lack of transparency has sparked outrage online, with many accusing the EFCC of shielding high-profile individuals from public scrutiny. On X (formerly Twitter), @Aminuyaro questioned, “What exactly is ‘former top brass’? Is withholding his or her name part of the deal? The court’s ruling should be enough to disclose the individual’s identity. Let Nigerians know who is ruining their country.”
Another user, @FemiOguntayo2, criticized the EFCC for what he called selective transparency, saying, “All this long piece and you can’t even name this suspected criminal… or just show his or her picture. But if it was an ordinary citizen or suspected Yahoo boy, you would have jailed him and shared his picture on social media. Let us know when you’re really ready to do your job fairly.”
The ongoing debate underscores the public’s growing demand for accountability in the fight against corruption.
