A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of properties valued at N11,140,000,000 allegedly linked to Godwin Emefiele, the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke issued the order on Wednesday after an ex parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The EFCC, represented by senior advocate Rotimi Oyedepo, argued that the properties were suspected proceeds of unlawful activities by Emefiele.
Emefiele is currently facing three separate criminal trials. The EFCC alleges Emefiele used proxies to purchase these prime properties with funds they believe were illegally obtained.
The court order mandates the temporary transfer of the properties to the federal government. Additionally, Justice Aneke directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper. This move allows anyone with a legitimate claim to the properties to come forward within 14 days to contest the seizure.
This development comes amidst Emefiele’s ongoing legal troubles. The former CBN governor has maintained his innocence and has not commented on the latest court order.
This is the third forfeiture hammered on the ex-CBN chief in three weeks. Justice Yellim Bogoro of Lagos Federal High Court, on 23 May 2024, granted an application by the EFCC to order an interim forfeiture of the sums of $4,719,054, N830,875,611, and several multi-million-naira properties linked to Emefiele.
On May 29, another judge, Ayokunle Faji, also ordered the interim forfeiture of $1,426,175.14 domiciled in Titan Bank and linked to the ex-CBN governor.
It is yet to be seen if Emefiele will challenge the court orders or if the properties will be permanently transferred to the Nigerian government.
Ezinwanne Onwuka, senior staff reporter and columnist with WAP is a Nigerian-based writer and content developer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Her interests include reading, writing, researching and graphic designing.
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