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 Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Yellim Bogoro issued the order on Friday following an ex-parte motion by EFCC counsel Bilkisu Buhari and C.C. Chineye.
The forfeited funds, held in various banks, were associated with entities including Omoile Anita Joy, Deep Blue Energy Service Limited, and Exactquote Bureau De Change Ltd, among others.
Emefiele’s properties forfeited to the federal government include:
- 94 Units of an 11-story building under construction at 2, Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos
- AM Plaza, an 11-story office space on 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 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
Additional properties include:
- A plot measuring 1,038.069 sqm at Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme, Block A, Plot 4, Foreshore Estate, Eti-Osa LGA
- A property 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 on 8, Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi Lagos
The EFCC sought the interim forfeiture under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and Section 44(2)(b) of the Constitution. The agency requested the court to direct the publication of the interim order in a national newspaper, allowing interested parties 14 days to show cause why the properties and funds should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
Justice Bogoro, after hearing the EFCC’s counsel, granted the ex-parte motion and adjourned the case to July 2, 2024, for the motion for final forfeiture.
