The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has opposed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) decision to hand over 753 housing units traced to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, in Abuja to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

In a statement by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, yesterday, the rights group advocated for the housing assets to be donated to the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

HURIWA suggested the properties be converted into living quarters for military personnel and offered to the families of soldiers killed or maimed in the ongoing war on terror.

The estate, spanning 150,500 square metres and located on Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, was recovered and declared federal government property following a court-ordered final forfeiture in December of last year.

HURIWA commended investigative journalists for uncovering the identity of the alleged corrupt public officer as the immediate past CBN Governor but criticised the EFCC for persistently concealing the identity of the former top official responsible for misappropriating public funds to build the luxury estate.

Reacting to the notification by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to sell the houses to members of the public, HURIWA said: “Government should take steps to ensure that recovered stolen assets are not re-looted by serving public office holders.

These housing assets, acquired unlawfully from stolen funds, should be put to use to benefit patriotic Nigerians such as soldiers and members of the armed forces who are making the supreme sacrifices to defend the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”