The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly secured a final forfeiture order for a warehouse built on a landed property measuring 1.925 hectares, allegedly linked to the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
The forfeited property is located at the Lagos/Ibadan expressway in Magboro, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Channel Television reports that the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Thursday ordered the final forfeiture, including 54 general-purpose steel containers.
On November 28, 2024, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), had filed a motion ex parte seeking forfeiture of the assets.
Oyedepo cited Section 44(2)(B) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.
He urged the court to approve“a final forfeiture order to the Federal Government of Nigeria for properties contained in Schedule A; a warehouse built on a landed property measuring 1.925 hectares, lying, being, and situate at Km 8, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Magboro, and 54 general-purpose steel containers, which are reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.”
“The application succeeds, and the same is accordingly granted,” Justice Dipeolu held.
The judge held a final forfeiture order is hereby granted, forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties contained in EFCC’s Schedule A, which are reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.
This development adds up to several properties and funds linked to Emefiele that have been forfeited to the federal government by the High Courts.
Meanwhile, Emefiele’s legal team has options to test the decisions of the lower courts at the Appeal Court and Supreme Court for a final determination of the dispute.