By Ayo Kehinde
The legal team of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has refuted media reports claiming that Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, ordered the final forfeiture of $4,719,054, N830,875,611, and properties allegedly owned by the former apex bank chief on Friday.
Justice Bogoro, on Friday, granted a final forfeiture order on the funds and assets linked to Anita Joy Omoile, CEO of Deep Blue Energy Services Limited.
A statement signed on Friday, by Olawale Fapohunda, Esq., on behalf of the legal team, dissociated Emefiele from ownership of the forfeited funds and assets.
The statement clarified that Deep Blue Energy Limited, established in 2009, is owned by a relative of Emefiele, not by the former CBN governor himself.
It reads: “Our attention has been drawn to recent news reports indicating that Justice Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, has granted a final forfeiture order on certain properties allegedly linked to one Anita Joy Omoile and her companies, including Deep Blue Energy Limited.
“It is important to clarify that Deep Blue Energy Limited, established in 2009, is owned by a relative of our client, Mr Godwin Emefiele, but not by Mr Emefiele himself.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we, as the legal representatives of Godwin Emefiele, categorically dissociate our client from the ownership of the assets in question. For emphasis, the assets in question do not belong to our client or any member of his immediate family.
“Furthermore, information reaching us suggests that Justice Aneke of the same Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, had previously discharged an interim forfeiture order on the same assets now forfeited by Honourable Justice Bogoro.
“We urge all stakeholders and members of the public to take note of this clarification and stop associating these assets with Mr Godwin Emefiele.”
A Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice C.J. Aneke, had on May 14, 2024, vacated the interim forfeiture order sought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on the funds and properties belonging to Anita Omoile, CEO of Deep Blue Energy Services Limited.
However, in a determined effort to target the funds and assets, the anti-graft agency, after losing before Justice Aneke, filed another ex parte application before Justice Bogoro on May 24, 2024.
According to EFCC counsel, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, the disputed funds are held in First Bank, Titan Bank and Zenith Bank, operated by 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.
The properties 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 located 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 acquired from Chevron Nigeria, Closed PFA Fund, Block B, Lot Twin, Completed Property, Lakes Estate, Lekki; 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 at 1, Bunmi Owulude Street (Maruwa), Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; and A property situated at 8, Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Granting the final order on Friday, Justice Bogoro stated, “I hold that Anita Omoile is a close associate of the former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele. Consequently, I find that all the monies and properties listed in the schedule are finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
