The Federal High Court in Lagos has mandated the interim forfeiture of significant sums of money and numerous properties linked to Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
This order was issued by Justice Yellim Bogoro following an ex-parte application by Bilkisu Buhari, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The forfeited sums include $4,719,054 and N830,875,611, which are reportedly held in various bank accounts. These accounts are operated by entities and individuals 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, and are domiciled in First Bank, Titan Bank, and Zenith Bank.
In her ruling, Justice Bogoro stated, “I have listened to the submission of the applicant’s counsel and also perused the motion just moved, together with the affidavit in support.”
His properties forfeited to the Federal Government includes 94 Units of an 11-floor building under Construction at 2, Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue (Formerly Club) Road, iKoyi, Lagos; AM Plaza, 11-floor office space, situate on 1E, Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos; Imore Industrial Park 1, Esa Street, Imoore Land purchased with (Deep Bive 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 in Lakes Estate. Lekki, Lagos.
Others are one plot measuring 1,038.069 sqm, at Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme, Block A, Plot 4, Foreshore Estate, Eti-Osa, LGA; Estate located at 100, Cottonwood Coppel Texas Drive, Coppel, Texas, Owned by Lipam investment Services; a Land at 1, Bunmi Owulude Street, (Maruwa), Lekki Phase 1, Lagos and a property situate on 8, Bayo Kuku Road, lkoyi, Lagos.
The EFCC’s application for interim forfeiture was grounded on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006, Section 44(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution, and the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
The anti-graft agency argued that the funds and properties are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
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