The Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an interim forfeiture order for $2.045 million and seven properties connected to Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The order was handed down by Justice Akintayo Aluko following a motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The properties in question include luxury duplexes and land located in high-end areas of Lagos and Delta State, among them two fully detached duplexes on Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, and an industrial complex under construction in Agbor, Delta State.
Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of share certificates linked to Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust. The EFCC, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Rotimi Oyedepo, argued that the assets were proceeds of unlawful activities, citing an investigation that revealed Emefiele’s involvement in fraudulent activities during his tenure as CBN Governor.
The investigation uncovered that Emefiele allegedly used shell companies to launder money obtained through kickbacks from foreign exchange allocations. The funds were then used to acquire the properties now subject to forfeiture. The court, after considering the EFCC’s evidence, granted the interim forfeiture of the assets pending further investigations.
