Former Central Bank of Nigeria governor Godwin Emefiele will lose property worth N12.18 after a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos ordered a permanent forfeiture.
This is on the heel of a motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on June 5, 2024, in its ongoing corruption charges filed against Mr. Emefiele.
Ruling on the matter Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke said:, “Having carefully considered the application and submission of counsel, it is hereby ordered as follows: – that a final forfeiture order of this honourable court is hereby made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria, properties contained in Schedule A herein which were traced and reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.”
EFFC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo had told the court that Emefiele is suspected to have bought the choice properties by proxy, with proceeds of fraud during his stint as CBN governor.
The EFCC identified two current and one former CBN staff as Emefiele’s accomplices in the alleged fraud.
In an affidavit filed in support of the application by the EFCC, the alleged accomplices were identified as Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben and Akomolafe Adebayo, working with Olubunmi Makinde, a former CBN staff and others.
The properties forfeited are mostly located in highbrow parts of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
