In a significant legal development, the Federal High Court in Lagos has granted an interim forfeiture order for properties valued at N11,140,000,000.00 allegedly linked to the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke issued the order following a motion exparte filed and argued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Rotimi Oyedepo.
Oyedepo, alongside Bilkisu Buhari-Bala and Chineye Okezie, presented compelling arguments in support of the forfeiture motion.
The court directed the interim forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government pending further legal proceedings.
According to Oyedepo, Emefiele is suspected of acquiring these prime properties through proxies, utilizing proceeds from fraudulent activities.
Notably, the properties are situated in prestigious areas of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Furthermore, the EFCC implicated three CBN staff members—Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben, Akomolafe Adebayo, and Olubunmi Makinde—as accomplices to Emefiele.
Allegedly, they leveraged their positions and influence to facilitate retail and special allocation of foreign exchange to various companies in exchange for illicit kickbacks.
In compliance with due process, Justice Aneke has ordered the EFCC to publish the forfeiture order in a national newspaper, inviting any interested parties to challenge the decision.
The court has scheduled a hearing for the motion for final forfeiture on the 21st of June, signaling the next phase of legal proceedings in this high-profile case.
The outcome of this legal battle holds significant implications for accountability and transparency within Nigeria’s financial institutions.
As the case unfolds, it underscores the importance of combating financial crimes and ensuring that justice prevails in the face of alleged misconduct at the highest levels of authority.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story continues to develop.