The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that a university recovered through a criminal forfeiture proceeding has been converted into a fully operational federal institution, enrolling 1,909 students in December 2025.
Olukoyede said the recovered campus, formerly known as NOK University in Kachia, Kaduna State, became the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, following its final forfeiture to the Federal Government.
“A university seized from crime is now a federal university. The recovered campus in Kaduna State became the Federal University of Applied Sciences, and in December 2025, 1,909 students matriculated there—young people who, in the ordinary course of things, would never have seen the inside of a lecture hall,” he said.
The EFCC chairman added that the institution was expected to stimulate economic activities and create opportunities within its host community in Southern Kaduna.
Olukoyede also disclosed that another high-value private university in Kebbi State had recently been finally forfeited to the Federal Government.
Although he did not identify the institution, he said it had temporary and permanent sites, as well as an exceptionally large residence constructed for its vice-chancellor.
“You need to get to that university in Kebbi. It has a temporary site and a permanent site. The house built for the vice-chancellor alone is probably bigger than the President’s house in the Villa,” he stated.
His description appears consistent with Rayhaan University, Kebbi State, whose final forfeiture was secured by the EFCC on July 15, 2026, alongside dozens of other properties linked to a former Attorney-General of the Federation.
The forfeiture order reportedly covered the university’s permanent and temporary sites, a third site, its radio station and the vice-chancellor’s residence.
Olukoyede said the commission’s enforcement activities over the past three years had moved beyond punishing offenders to returning recovered assets to productive use within the economy.
According to him, the EFCC secured the forfeiture of 10,053 assets between October 2023 and July 2026, including real estate, land, vehicles, electronics, schools, factories, hotels, oil rigs, barges, machinery and aircraft.
He added that the commission recovered 102 tonnes of solid minerals, while the disposal of forfeited assets generated ₦12.07 billion for the Federal Government.
“Beyond cash, between October 2023 and July 2026, we secured the forfeiture of 10,053 assets—real estate, land, vehicles, electronics, schools, factories, hotels, oil rigs, barges, machinery and aircraft—along with 102 tonnes of solid minerals,” he said.
“Disposals so far have returned ₦12.07 billion to the Federal Government.”
Olukoyede said the recoveries had also helped to strengthen government revenue, protect the integrity of the financial system and discourage potential offenders.
“This is what enforcement looks like when it moves beyond punishment. Every asset taken from a criminal enterprise lowers the reward for the next one—and some of it comes back as a classroom,” he added.
The EFCC had earlier disclosed that it recovered ₦1.233 trillion, alongside sums denominated in foreign currencies, and secured 10,872 convictions between October 2023 and July 2026.
