A Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an interim forfeiture order for $2.045 million, seven properties, and shares connected to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Akintayo Aluko granted the order on Thursday after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) submitted an application.
The EFCC, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Rotimi Oyedepo, argued that the assets in question are suspected to be proceeds of illicit activities.
Oyedepo informed the court that Emefiele allegedly negotiated kickbacks in exchange for allocating foreign exchange to companies in need of it for legitimate business purposes.
The investigation also uncovered that Ifeanyi Omeke, a deputy general manager at Zenith Bank Plc, collaborated closely with Emefiele, handling tasks such as purchasing and securing title documents for various high-value properties in Lagos.
The properties subject to forfeiture include two detached duplexes in Lekki Phase 1, an undeveloped plot in Ikoyi, a bungalow in Ikoyi, a four-bedroom duplex in Ikoyi, an industrial complex under construction in Agbor, eight units of semi-detached apartments in Ikoyi, and a full duplex in Ikoyi.
The EFCC requested that these assets be forfeited to the federal government, a request that the court approved. The judge also instructed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper.
This will allow any parties with an interest in the properties to come forward and provide reasons within 14 days as to why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the government.
The case has been adjourned until September 5 for further proceedings.
