The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of $2.04m and seven properties connected to former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Akintayo Aluko made the order following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which is investigating alleged fraudulent activities linked to Emefiele.
The properties in question include prime real estate in Lekki and Ikoyi, Lagos, as well as a large industrial complex under construction in Agbor, Delta State.
Justice Aluko stated that the interim forfeiture was necessary to prevent the dissipation of the assets suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The properties listed are reasonably suspected to have been acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities.
The properties, as listed, include two fully detached duplexes at No. 17b Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; a 1,919.592 sqm undeveloped land on Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (formerly Queens Drive) in Ikoyi; a bungalow at No. 65a Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi; a four-bedroom duplex at 12a Probyn Road, Ikoyi; an industrial complex on 22 plots in Agbor, Delta State; eight apartments on Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi; and a full duplex at 2a Bank Road, Ikoyi.
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In addition to the properties, the court also ordered the interim forfeiture of two share certificates of Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust, a company allegedly linked to Emefiele.
EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, (SAN), who brought the application for the orders in a suit marked FHC/L/MISC/500/24, argued that the assets were obtained through fraudulent activities.
Justice Aluko, after granting an interim forfeiture order, directed the EFCC to publish the same in a national newspaper and gave 14 days for anyone who has an interest in the funds and the assets to appear in court to show cause why they should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The case has been adjourned to September 5, 2024, for further hearing.
The forfeiture is the latest in the series of forfeiture orders obtained by the anti-graft agency against Emefiele, who is facing multiple corruption charges.
This comes after a series of forfeiture orders obtained by the anti-graft agency against Emefiele, including the forfeiture of $1.4m, $4.7m, N830m, and properties worth N12.18bn linked to him.
