The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of $2.045 million, seven landed properties, and shares linked to Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The order was issued on Thursday by Justice Akintayo Aluko following an application filed by Rotimi Oyedepo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and legal representative for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in a suit marked FHC/L/MISC/500/24.
Oyedepo informed the court that the assets were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
He detailed how the investigation revealed that Emefiele allegedly negotiated kickbacks in exchange for the allocation of foreign exchange to companies in need of it for their legitimate business operations.
“In the course of this investigation, it was revealed that the erstwhile CBN governor negotiated kickbacks in return for allocation of foreign exchange to some companies who were in desperate need of foreign exchange for their lawful and legitimate businesses,” Oyedepo stated.
Further investigation uncovered the involvement of Ifeanyi Omeke, a deputy general manager and head of litigation at Zenith Bank Plc, who allegedly facilitated the acquisition and perfection of title documents for several properties located in affluent areas of Lagos on behalf of Emefiele.
According to the EFCC, several company seals, including those for Queensdorf Global Fund Limited, were discovered in Omeke’s possession, allegedly kept there by Emefiele.
Oyedepo told the court that the properties in question were acquired through corporate entities, likely as a means to conceal the illicit origins of the funds used for their purchase.
The properties include high-end real estate in Lekki, Ikoyi, and Agbor, Delta State. Among them are two fully detached duplexes at No. 17b Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1; a bungalow at No. 65a Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi; a four-bedroom duplex at 12a Probyn Road, Ikoyi; and an industrial complex under construction on a 22-plot land in Agbor.
The EFCC sought the court’s approval for the forfeiture of these assets to the federal government. Granting the request, Justice Aluko ordered the publication of the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper, allowing interested parties 14 days to appear before the court and show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the government.
The case has been adjourned for further hearing on September 5, 2024.
