The federal high court sitting in Lagos has granted the federal government an order of interim forfeiture of properties valued at N11,140,000,000 linked to Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Chukwujekwu Aneke, the presiding judge, made the order on
Wednesday, following a motion filed and argued by Rotimi Oyedepo, the counsel
to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The senior lawyer informed the court that Emefiele was
suspected of purchasing prime properties through proxies using proceeds from
fraud.
These properties are said to be primarily located in upscale
areas of the federal capital territory (FCT), Abuja.
The EFCC also identified three CBN officials — Obayemi
Oluwaseun Teben, Akomolafe Adebayo, and Olubunmi Makinde — as Emefiele’s
accomplices.
They allegedly used their positions to secure retail and
special allocations of foreign exchange for various companies in return for
kickbacks.
After granting the interim order of forfeiture, the judge
directed the EFCC to publish the order in a newspaper, allowing any interested
parties to contest the final forfeiture.
Aneke adjourned the hearing for the motion for final
forfeiture to June 21.
In May, Yellim Bogoro, judge of a federal high court in
Lagos, also granted EFCC’s prayers on interim forfeiture of $4,719,054,
N830,875,611, and other assets linked to Emefiele.
On May 29, another judge, Ayokunle Faji, also ordered the
interim forfeiture of $1,426,175.14 linked to the former CBN governor.
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