A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of $4.7 million, ₦830 million, and multiple high-value properties linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Delivering judgment on Friday, February 21, Justice Yellim Bogoro granted the final forfeiture application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by counsel Bilkisu Buhari-Bala. This ruling follows the court’s earlier dismissal of an application seeking Emefiele’s arrest.
The forfeited funds were traced to accounts in First Bank, Titan Bank, and Zenith Bank, managed by individuals and 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.
The seized properties include:
94-unit, 11-floor building under construction at 2 Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos
AM Plaza, an 11-floor office complex on Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos
Imore Industrial Park 1, located on Esa Street, Imoore Land, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Lagos
Mitrewood and Tatler Warehouse (Furniture Plant at Bogije) near Elemoro, Owolomi Village, Ibeju-Lekki LGA, Lagos
Two properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria, situated in Lakes Estate, Lekki, Lagos
A plot at Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme, Eti-Osa LGA, Lagos
An estate in Coppel, Texas, USA, owned by Lipam Investment Services
A property at 8 Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
Land at 1 Bunmi Owulude Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos
Justice Bogoro ruled that the funds and assets were proceeds of unlawful activities and must be forfeited to the federal government.
“I find that the activities of the respondents here were unlawful. Why should they have a problem with dollars immediately after Godwin Emefiele left CBN, and salaries could no longer be paid? These are not legitimate business activities. Anita Omoile is a close associate of Emefiele, who was unlawfully favored to divert dollars from the CBN. Therefore, I declare that all listed monies and properties are finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the judge stated.
The EFCC, through its counsel Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, cited Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006, and Section 44(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution to argue that the funds and properties were illicitly acquired.
Justice Bogoro had previously issued an interim forfeiture order and directed its publication in a national newspaper. With no valid claims to the assets presented, the court has now made the forfeiture permanent.
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