The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Thursday, August 15, ordered the interim forfeiture of $2.04m and seven properties connected to former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele.
In an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Justice Akintayo Aluko made the order to investigate alleged fraudulent activities linked to the ex-CBN governor.
The properties include real estate in Lekki and Ikoyi, Lagos, as well as a large industrial complex under construction in Agbor, Delta State.
According to Justice Aluko, the interim forfeiture was necessary to prevent the dissipation of the assets suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
He stated further; “The properties listed in this application are reasonably suspected to have been acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities.”
The properties, as listed, 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.
Meanwhile, in addition to the properties, the court also ordered the interim forfeiture of two share certificates of Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust, a company allegedly linked to Emefiele.
Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, (SAN), who brought the application for the orders in a suit marked FHC/L/MISC/500/24, argued that the assets were obtained through unwholesome activities.
