Properties valued at over N12.18 billion linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele have been ordered for forfeiture to the Federal Government.
The properties forfeited are mostly located in highbrow parts of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja.
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, presided over by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on Friday issued the order of permanent forfeiture after hearing an application filed by Chineye Okezie, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The judge said, “Having carefully considered the application and submission of counsel, it is at this moment ordered as follows: – that a final forfeiture order of this honorable court is at this moment made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria, properties contained in Schedule A herein which were traced and reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.”
The EFCC identified two current and one former CBN staff as Emefiele’s accomplices in the alleged fraud.
Recall that on June 5, 2024, the judge upheld EFCC’s motion filed and argued by its counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, for a temporary forfeiture of the properties.
Oyedepo had told the court that Emefiele is suspected of having bought the choice properties by proxy, with fraud proceeds during his stint as CBN governor.
In an affidavit filed in support of the application by the EFCC, the alleged accomplices were identified as Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben and Akomolafe Adebayo, working with Olubunmi Makinde, a former CBN staff and others.
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