It is a dream property, situated on one of the choice spots of the Federal Capital Territory- the very high brow Asokoro area of Abuja.

The property originally belonged to disgraced former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun.
But when he ran into the stormy waters, the House at number 34 Mamman Nasir Street, Asokoro was one of the numerous property seized from him by the then Mallam Nuhu Ribudu-led Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The Nigerian Compass on Saturday was reliably informed that the house is worth N2 billion.

But the big question now that has left the EFCC in a quandry is: To whom was it sold?
Sources within the commission told our correspondents that the EFCC as at now, does not know the new owner although all fingers point to a former minister from the Northern part of the country, who held cabinet offices under former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

It was reliably gathered that the former minister has denied buying the house and said that he has no business with the transaction. Asat yesterday, the EFCC was still asking the question: who bought this house?

In its April 10, 2010 edition, the Nigerian Compass on Saturday had exclusively reported that records of Tafa Balogun property were in tatters.

Entitled: “A-looter-continua: How Tafa Balogun's loot was re-looted”, the report gave details of the mess that the sale of the property and those of former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha had become, as contained in the interim report EFCC on the disposal of seized assets by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu regime.

The interim report treated mainly: FRN VS Tafa Balogun & Others; and FRN VS DSP Alamieyeseigha. Other cases also identified but which, according to the report, would feature in the Final Report include: FRN VS Emmanuel Nwude, FRN VS Nnammani & Others, FRN VS Joshua Dariye and FRN VS Fred Ajidua.

The report faulted the sale of assets seized from Tafa Balogun by renowned property managing firm, Diya Fatimilehin & co.

It stated in part: “The circumstances surrounding Diya Fatimilehin & Co.’s appointment are unsavory. Suffice it to say however, that Diya Fatimilehin & Co. had three (3) roles in the sale of Tafa Balogun’s property. They were appointed as (a) Valuers; (b) Rent Collectors (See Appendix 19) and (c) Managers of the forfeited property. The Committee also observes what constitutes unlawful practices by Diya Fatimilehin & Co.

On due process, “The Committee observes that the Attorney-General of the Federation; The Minister of Works; The Accountant-General of the Federation and the Auditor-General, who ought to be parties in the disposal of property forfeited to the Federal Government as stipulated in the EFCC Establishment Act and as required by Financial Regulations 2520 (Revised 2006) were not briefed by the Secretary of the Commission when assets were sold.”
Source:Nigeria Compass.