A Federal High Court in Lagos has officially ordered the permanent forfeiture of $4.7 million, ₦830 million, and several properties linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Yellim Bogoro, in a judgment delivered on Friday, February 21, granted the forfeiture request submitted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by its legal counsel, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala.
The court ruled that the properties were acquired through unlawful means as the decision followed the rejection of an application seeking to prevent the forfeiture.
The confiscated funds were traced to various accounts held at First Bank, Titan Bank, and Zenith Bank.
These accounts were managed by individuals and corporate entities, including 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.
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Among the properties affected by the ruling are 94 units within an 11-story building under construction at 2 Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos.
AM Plaza, an 11-story commercial complex at Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1; and Imore Industrial Park 1 on Esa Street, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area.
Other confiscated assets include a furniture manufacturing warehouse at Bogije near Elemoro, Ibeju-Lekki, and two properties acquired from Chevron Nigeria, located in Lakes Estate, Lekki.
Additionally, the forfeiture order covers land at Lekki Foreshore Estate, a property in 100 Cottonwood Coppel Texas Drive, Coppel, Texas, registered under Lipam Investment Services, a plot at 1 Bunmi Owulude Street, Lekki Phase 1, and another at 8 Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Justice Bogoro ruled that the seized assets were proceeds of illicit activities and must be surrendered to the federal government.
“I find that the activities of the respondents here were unlawful. Why should they have a problem of dollars immediately Godwin Emefiele left CBN as a governor of the Bank and salary could not be made? I hold that they are not legitimate business activities,” the judge stated.
The judge further noted, “I hold that Anita Omoile is a close crony of the former CBN governor Godwin Emefiele who has been given undue influence to unlawfully sway dollars from CBN.
“Consequently, I find that all the monies and properties in the schedule are finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo SAN cited Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, alongside Section 44(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution, arguing that the assets were acquired through illicit means and should be forfeited.
Justice Bogoro had previously issued an interim forfeiture order, instructing that the notice be published in a national newspaper.
After no party provided evidence of legitimate ownership, the court confirmed the permanent forfeiture.