A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of property valued at N11.14 billion linked to the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke gave the order on Wednesday following a motion filed and argued by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo.
Oyedepo informed the court that Emefiele was suspected of having bought the choice property, mostly located in highbrow parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, by proxy, with the proceeds of fraud.
The EFCC’s counsel said the anti-graft agency identified a former CBN staff member and two current ones as Emefiele’s accomplices in the alleged fraud.
Justice Aneke also ordered the EFCC to publish the order in the ThisDay newspaper so that any interested party could show cause why the final order of forfeiture should not be made.
The judge adjourned till June 21 to hear the motion for final forfeiture.
On May 30, 2024, the same court ordered the interim forfeiture of $1,426,175.14 linked to Emefiele.
Justice Ayokunle Faji directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper.
The judge said anyone interested in the funds must appear before him within 14 days to show cause why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The court order followed an ex parte application moved by EFCC counsel, Bilikisu Buhari-Bala.
Buhari-Bala told Justice Faji that the funds were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities of Emefiele, who is currently facing three criminal trials.
