A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the interim forfeiture of $4,719,054, N830,875,611, and several properties linked to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
The ruling was issued on Friday by Justice Yellim Bogoro following an ex-parte motion by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel Bilkisu Buhari and C.C. Chineye.
The forfeited funds, held in various banks, are associated with entities 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.
Among the forfeited properties are:
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 located at 1E, Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos.
Imore Industrial Park 1 on 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, owned by Lipam Investment Services.
A land parcel at 1, Bunmi Owulude Street (Maruwa), Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
A property situated at 8, Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The EFCC sought the interim forfeiture of these assets under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, Section 44(2)(b) of the Constitution, and the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
The agency 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.”
The anti-graft agency also sought “an interim order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties listed in Schedule ‘B’ which are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
Also requested “an order directing the publication in any national newspaper of the interim order, for anyone interested in the properties and funds to appear before the court within 14 days to show cause why the final forfeiture order should not be made.”
Justice Bogoro, after reviewing the submissions, 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.”
The case has been adjourned to July 2, 2024, for the hearing of the motion for final forfeiture.
