Enugu Lawmaker Threatens Legal Action Over EFCC’s Transfer of Forfeited Properties to AMCON
A member of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Harrison Ogara has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the EFCC, demanding it reverse the handover of forfeited properties to AMCON, calling the move unjustified and misleading.
He insists the assets belong to the Enugu people, not the federal agency, and threatened legal action if the EFCC fails to return them to the state government.
Enugu lawmaker, Hon. Harrison Ogara, has issued a stern ultimatum to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), demanding a reversal of its recent decision to transfer several forfeited properties belonging to Rainbownet Nigeria Limited to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
Rainbownet, a company reportedly owned by former Enugu State Governor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, had forfeited the properties following EFCC investigations and subsequent legal proceedings. However, the latest development has drawn sharp criticism from Ogara, who represents the Igbo-Eze South Constituency. He argues that the properties were originally acquired with funds belonging to the government and people of Enugu State, and therefore should be returned to the state rather than handed over to a federal recovery agency like AMCON.
In an open letter addressed to the EFCC Chairman, Ogara expressed deep concern and dissatisfaction with the commission’s handling of the situation. He demanded that the EFCC revoke the handover and transfer the properties to the Enugu State Government within seven days or face legal consequences.
According to EFCC’s announcement last Thursday, the forfeited assets transferred to AMCON include a wide range of real estate holdings: a bungalow, a warehouse, and three duplexes located at No. 3/4 Pocket Estate, Independence Layout, Enugu; a 12-room, one-storey semi-detached building at No. 35B Abakaliki Road, Enugu; a six-room duplex at No. 3A Mount Street, Park Avenue; and another six-room duplex at No. 3C Mount Street, Park Avenue, also in Enugu.
Ogara argued that the EFCC’s decision lacked transparency and defied logic, especially considering that in April 2024, the commission had returned 14 other properties linked to the former governor to the Enugu State Government. He lamented that even that handover was done without officially informing the State House of Assembly, further compounding concerns of accountability.
The lawmaker also raised questions about the whereabouts of N400 million allegedly recovered from Sam Ejiofor’s overhead tank during the EFCC’s investigations, a sum he claimed remains unaccounted for.
“As a representative of the people of Igbo-Eze South, who are part stakeholders in these properties, I have received countless calls from constituents demanding to know why assets purchased with state resources are being handed over to an unrelated agency,” Ogara stated in the letter.
He continued: “There is no legal or administrative connection between AMCON and the properties linked to Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani. These assets were not part of any transaction involving AMCON, nor has the agency been involved in the litigation process that led to the forfeiture.”
Ogara warned that if the EFCC failed to meet his seven-day ultimatum, he would initiate a legal challenge in a competent court, invoking the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) to ensure justice is served and the properties are rightfully restored to the people of Enugu State.
As of press time on Monday, the EFCC had yet to issue an official response to the letter or address the allegations raised by the lawmaker.
