A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the interim forfeiture of N830,875,611, $4,719,054, and several properties linked to the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele. The court granted the order on Friday after Justice Yellim Bogoro considered an ex-parte motion filed by Bilkisu Buhari and C.C. Chineye on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC stated in its motion that the funds are held in various banks linked to 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. According to the court filing, Emefiele’s properties forfeited to the federal government include:
- 94 units of an 11-storey building under construction at 2, Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue (formerly Club Road), Ikoyi, Lagos.
- AM Plaza, an 11-storey office space situated at 1E, Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos.
- Imore Industrial Park 1, Esa Street, Imoore Land, purchased with Deep Blue 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, Closed PFA Fund, Block B, Lot Twin Completed Property Lakes Estate, Lekki, Lagos.
- One plot measuring 1,038.069 sqm at Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme, Block A, Plot 4, Foreshore Estate, Eti-Osa LGA.
- An estate located at 100, Cottonwood Coppel Texas Drive, Coppel, Texas, US, owned by Lipam Investment Services.
- Land at 1, Bunmi Owulude Street (Maruwa), Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
- Property situated at 8, Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The EFCC relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and Section 44(2)(b) of the Constitution while seeking the interim forfeiture. In the motion before the court, the anti-graft agency specifically requested:
- “An interim order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the funds held in the accounts listed in Schedule ‘A,’ which are reasonably suspected 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 said properties and funds should not be made in favor of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
After listening to the submission from the EFCC’s counsel, Justice Bogoro 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.” The case was adjourned to July 2, 2024, for the motion for final forfeiture.
Emefiele is standing trial in multiple courts over abuse of office, alleged $4.5 billion, and N2.8 billion alleged fraud which the EFCC said he allegedly perpetrated while in office.