The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the temporary forfeiture of $2.045 million, which has been linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Akintayo Aluko also directed the interim forfeiture of seven properties associated with the suspended CBN Governor. These properties include two duplexes at No. 17b Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; a vacant land at Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos; a bungalow at No. 65a Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi; a four-bedroom duplex at 12a Probyn Road, Ikoyi; an industrial complex under construction on a 22-plot site in Agbor, Delta State; eight apartment units on a plot at No. 8a Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi; and a duplex on a plot at 2a Bank Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Additionally, Justice Aluko ordered the interim forfeiture of two share certificates of Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust.
The court issued these orders after hearing an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo, who argued that the assets in question were likely obtained through unlawful activities.
Oyedepo based his argument on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006, Section 44 (2)(B) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, and the court’s inherent powers.
He submitted an affidavit from Idi Musa, an EFCC investigator, which detailed the investigation into alleged fraudulent activities by senior officers of the CBN, including Emefiele.
The affidavit claimed that Emefiele, along with his associates, was involved in a massive fraud that included converting large sums of money for personal use and negotiating kickbacks for foreign exchange allocations.
The EFCC traced several properties believed to have been acquired with illicit funds, now subject to forfeiture.
Investigations revealed that Ifeanyi Omeke, a Zenith Bank Deputy General Manager, assisted Emefiele in purchasing and securing the titles for these properties.
The investigation also uncovered seals for various companies, including Queensdorf Global Fund Limited, which were allegedly used as fronts for money laundering.
The affidavit further stated that Emefiele’s illegal activities funded the acquisition of the properties in question, and that the assets were acquired under the names of cooperating entities to hide the true source of the funds. The funds and properties are suspected to be derived from unlawful activities rather than legitimate earnings.
After considering Oyedepo’s arguments and reviewing the case materials, Justice Aluko granted the interim forfeiture of the money, share certificates, and properties.
 Governor, Godwin Emefiele.){kind=link}