Court don fix November 1, 2024, to give judgment on the application wey Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) file for the final forfeiture of $2.045 million, seven choice landed properties, and shares wey dey linked to former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos go also rule on the application wey Emefiele file to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to hear the forfeiture case. On August 25, 2024, the court give EFCC permission to temporarily take custody of the cash sum of $2.045 million, seven choice landed properties, and shares linked to Emefiele.
During the hearing on Friday, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, move application for the final forfeiture of the $2.045 million and share certificates, saying no objections dey from any interested party. Oyedepo argue say Emefiele no show how him lawful earnings from Zenith Bank and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) take buy the properties wey dem want to forfeit.
Oyedepo submit say the total amount wey Emefiele lawfully earn and save before him become CBN Governor no reach to buy the properties wey dem want to forfeit. Him adopt him written address dated August 29, 2024, and urge the court to order final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.
Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, oppose the application, saying his client don provide enough evidence to show why the final forfeiture no go happen. Ojo also file separate application to challenge the court’s jurisdiction to proceed with the forfeiture hearing, citing ongoing charges against Emefiele at both the Federal High Court in Abuja and the Lagos State High Court.
Ojo request stay of the forfeiture proceedings until the cases conclude, arguing say the court’s decision go affect the ongoing trials. However, Oyedepo counter this, saying courts don previously rule say pending criminal charges no prevent the final forfeiture of assets suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
The properties wey dem want to forfeit include two fully detached duplexes at No. 17b Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; an undeveloped land at Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi; a bungalow at No. 65a Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi; a four-bedroom duplex at 12a Probyn Road, Ikoyi; an industrial complex under construction on 22 plots of land in Agbor, Delta State; 8 units of an undetached apartment on Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi; and a full duplex at 2a Bank Road, Ikoyi.
The court also order the temporary forfeiture of two share certificates belonging to Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust, linked to Emefiele. Justice Akintayo Aluko direct say the forfeiture notice be published in a national newspaper, giving interested parties 14 days to contest the order.
