A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the interim forfeiture of $4,719,054, N830,875,611, and numerous properties linked to Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sought the interim forfeiture of these assets under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and Section 44(2)(b) of the Constitution.
The court, presided over by Justice Yellim Bogoro, granted the EFCC’s request following an ex-parte motion presented by EFCC counsels Bilkisu Buhari and C.C. Chineye.
The properties forfeited to the Federal Government include:
– 94 units of an 11-story building under construction at 2, Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue (formerly Club Road), Ikoyi, Lagos
– AM Plaza, an 11-story office building at 1E, Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos
– Imore Industrial Park 1, Esa Street, Imore 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
– Two properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria, located in Closed PFA Fund, Block B, Lot Twin completed property Lakes Estate, Lekki, Lagos
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Additionally, other properties include:
– A plot measuring 1,038.069 sqm at Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme, Block A, Plot 4, Foreshore Estate, Eti-Osa LGA, Lagos
– An estate located 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 at 8, Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
The EFCC also requested an interim order to forfeit funds held in specified accounts to the Federal Government, suspecting them to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
“An Interim order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria Properties provided in 2nd Schedule ‘B’ which are proceeds of unlawful activities.
“An Order directing the publication In any National Newspaper, the interim order under reliefs 1-2 above, for anyone who Is interested in the properties and funds sought to be forfeited to appear before this Honourable Court to show cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture of the sald properties and funds should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
In granting the ex-parte motion, Justice Bogoro, after he had taken submission of the EFCC’s counsel held; “I have listened to the submission of the applicant’s counsel and also perused the motion just moved, together with the affidavit in support.”
