A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, has ordered the interim forfeiture of $4,719,054, N830,875,611, and several properties linked to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
The order was issued on Friday by Justice Yellim Bogoro after an ex-parte motion by EFCC counsel Bilkisu Buhari and C.C. Chineye.
The forfeited funds, held in various banks, were linked to Omoile Anita Joy, Deep Blue Energy Service Limited, Exactquote Bureau De Change Ltd, Lipam Investment Services Limited, Tatler Services Limited, Rosajul Global Resources Ltd, and TIL Communication Nigeria Ltd.
Emefiele’s properties forfeited to the federal government include; 94 units of an 11-story building under construction at 2, Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue (formerly Club) Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; AM Plaza, an 11-story office space located on 1E, Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos; Imore Industrial Park 1, Esa Street, Imoore Land purchased with (Deep Blue Industrial Town, Oriade LCDA, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Lagos; Mitrewood and Tatler Warehouse (Furniture Plant at Bogije) near Elemoro, Lagos, Owolomi Village, Ibeju-Lekki LGA, Lagos, and two properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria, Closed PFA Fund, Block B. Lot. Twin Completed Property Lakes Estate, Lekki, Lagos.
Others include; one plot measuring 1,038.069 sqm at Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme, Block A, Plot 4, Foreshore Estate, Eti-Osa LGA; an estate located at 100, Cottonwood Coppel Texas Drive, Coppel, Texas, owned by Lipam Investment Services; land at 1, Bunmi Owulude Street (Maruwa), Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; and a property situated on 8, Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The EFCC had sought an interim forfeiture of the monies and properties under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, Section 44(2)(b) of the Constitution, and the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
Specifically, the anti-graft agency requested “an interim order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the funds held in the accounts listed in Schedule ‘A,’ which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
“An interim order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria properties provided in 2nd Schedule ‘B’ which are proceeds of unlawful activities.
“An order directing the publication in any national newspaper, the interim order under reliefs 1-2 above, for anyone who is interested in the properties and funds sought to be forfeited to appear before this honourable court to show cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture of the said properties and funds should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
In granting the ex-parte motion, Justice Bogoro, after hearing the submission of the EFCC’s counsel, held: “I have listened to the submission of the applicant’s counsel and also perused the motion just moved, together with the affidavit in support.”
The case was, however, adjourned to July 2, 2024, for the motion for final forfeiture.
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