A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday ordered the interim forfeiture of $2.04 million and seven property connected to a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele.
The ruling by Justice Akintayo Aluko followed application by the EFCC.
“The property listed in this application are reasonably suspected to have been acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities,” the judge said.
The property 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.
Also included is a large industrial complex under construction in Agbor, Delta State.
Also, the court ordered the interim forfeiture of two share certificates of Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust, a company allegedly linked to Emefiele.
The EFCC’s investigation, as detailed in court documents, revealed that Emefiele allegedly negotiated kickbacks in exchange for foreign exchange allocations to companies in need of foreign currency for legitimate business purposes.
The judge directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in national newspapers, including The PUNCH, The Guardian, and The Nation to notify any interested parties.
He said that the parties have 14 days to appear before the court and show reason why the property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The case was adjourned till September 5, 2024, for further hearing.
