A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the interim forfeiture of $4,719,054, N830,875,611, and several properties linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele.
The ruling, issued on Friday by Justice Yellim Bogoro, followed an ex-parte motion filed by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel Bilkisu Buhari and C.C. Chineye.
The forfeited funds, held in various bank accounts, are 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-storey building under construction at 2, Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue (Formerly Club) Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
- AM Plaza, an 11-storey office space located at 1E, Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos.
- Imore Industrial Park 1, Esa Street, Imore Land, Oriade LCDA, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Lagos.
- Mitrewood and Tatler Warehouse (Furniture Plant at Bogije) near Elemoro, Lagos, Owolomi Village, Ibeju-Lekki LGA, Lagos.
- Two properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria, Closed PFA Fund, Block B, Lot Twin Completed Property Lakes Estate, Lekki, Lagos.
- 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.
- A property situated on 8, Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The EFCC sought interim forfeiture of the assets 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. The anti-graft agency requested the court to order the forfeiture of the funds and properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Justice Bogoro, after considering the motion and affidavit, granted the ex-parte motion. He ruled, “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 has been adjourned to July 2, 2024, for the hearing of the motion for final forfeiture.
