- The Federal High Court in Lagos granted an interim forfeiture order for $4,719,054 and N830,875,611 linked to Godwin Emefiele
- Justice Yellim Bogoro issued the order following an ex-parte application by the EFCC, represented by Bilkisu Buhari and C.C Chineye
The Federal High Court in Lagos has granted an interim forfeiture order for $4,719,054 and N830,875,611, along with various properties linked to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Yellim Bogoro issued the order on Thursday following an ex-parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) represented by Bilkisu Buhari and C.C Chineye.
Justice Bogoro, after considering the submissions of the EFCC’s counsel, granted the application, stating, “I find merit in the application and same is hereby granted as prayed.”
The judge ordered the publication of the forfeiture order in a national newspaper to notify interested parties and show why the final forfeiture order should not be made. The case was adjourned to July 2 for a motion for final forfeiture.
The funds to be forfeited were reportedly held in First Bank, Titan Bank, and Zenith Bank under various entities, including 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.
Among the properties forfeited are a 94-unit 11-floor building under construction in Ikoyi, Lagos, an 11-floor office space at Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos, and several others across Lagos state.
The EFCC approached the court for the forfeiture under various legal provisions, including Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act 14, 2006, and Section 44(2)(b) of the Constitution, as well as the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
Emefiele is currently facing trial in Abuja and Lagos over allegations of fraud. In Lagos, he was arraigned on an amended 26-count charge related to alleged fraud amounting to $4.5bn and N2.8bn.
He is also being tried at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja for allegedly abusing his office and receiving gratification totalling $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion. Emefiele was arraigned alongside his co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoile, on charges including abuse of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand, and fraudulently obtaining and conferring corrupt advantage.
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