(EFCC. Photo by Daily Nigerian)
A civil society organization, the Initiative Against Human Rights Abuse & Torture (INAHURAT), has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately enforce an interim forfeiture order issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja over disputed properties in the city’s Guzape and Katampe districts.
The group, comprising lawyers and led by human rights activist Dr. Maxwell Opara, said the order was issued by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik in connection with a suit filed against property developer Mrs. Rebecca Godwin-Isaac, aimed at safeguarding the properties pending the resolution of an alleged land fraud case currently before the court.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, INAHURAT alleged that despite the existence of the court order, development work has continued at the disputed Plot 4022 in Guzape District in apparent violation of the law.
The group urged the EFCC to enforce compliance, arguing that doing so would reinforce public confidence in the judicial process, particularly for the case’s nominal complainant, an elderly widow identified as Mrs. Colleen Mero Yesufu.
The organization insisted that the EFCC chairman has no discretion in the matter, stressing that court orders must be obeyed in full regardless of preference, and called on the commission to act swiftly to preserve the disputed assets and prevent any further development that could undermine the court’s restraining order.
Additionally, INAHURAT disclosed that it has petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as well as the Minister of Interior, over allegations that the developer was issued a fresh international passport despite her travel documents having previously been seized by the court as part of her bail conditions.