From Victor Osula, Abuja
A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered final forfeiture of money and properties linked to Godwin Emefiele, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The court had, on August 25, 2024, authorised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to temporarily take custody of the cash sum of $2.045 million, landed properties and shares linked to Emefiele. It directed the commission to publish the order of interim forfeiture, for any person interested in the funds to show cause why it should not be finally forfeited to the federal government.
The anti-graft agency had on October 11, through its counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, applied for the final forfeiture of the sum, the properties, as well as share certificates, which it said were not contested by the interested party.
Counsel to Emefiele, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), had urged the court not to grant the final forfeiture of the properties, arguing that his client had shown in a balance of probability that the court ought not to grant final forfeiture of the properties.
Ruling on Friday, Justice Deinde Dipeolu, ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of $2.045 million, seven landed properties in the Ikoyi area of Lagos state and two share certificates of Queensdorf Global Fund Limited trust for being proceeds of crime.
The judge held that the former CBN governor failed to provide documents or links to show that he owned the properties.
According to the court ruling, Emefiele had denied any connection between himself and the companies in whose names the properties were purchased.
The court further held that the companies, including Amrash Ventures Limited, Modern Hotels Limited, Finebury Properties Limited, H & Y Business Global Limited and SDEM Erectors Nigeria Limited, through which the properties were acquired, also failed to appear before the court for claims.
“The conclusion is that there must be something dark about the acquisition of the properties, which Emefiele and the companies do not want to come to light. I, hereby, held that the interested party has failed to demonstrate any lawful interest in the properties and that they were acquired through his legitimate earnings.
“An order of final forfeitures is hereby granted on the properties and shall be forfeited to the federal government”, Justice Dipeolu held.
The properties are two fully detached duplexes of identical structures, lying at No. 17b Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, an undeveloped land measuring 1919.592 sqm with Survey Plan No. DS/LS/340 at Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (Formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos; a bungalow at No. 65a Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, (Formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos and a four-bedroom duplex at 12a Probyn Road, Ikoyi.
Others are an industrial complex under construction on 22 plots of land in Agbor, Delta State; 8 units of an undetached apartment on a plot measuring 2457.60sqm at No. 8a Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, and a full duplex together with all its appurtenances on a plot of land measuring 2217.87sqm at 2a Bank Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
