A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the interim forfeiture of $4,719,054, N830,875,611, and several properties linked to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
Justice
Yellim Bogoro issued the order today, Friday, May 14, after an ex-parte motion
by EFCC counsel Bilkisu Buhari and C.C. Chineye.
The
forfeited funds, held in various banks, were linked to Omoile Anita Joy, Deep
Blue Energy Service Limited, Exactquote Bureau De Change Ltd, Lipam Investment
Services Limited, Tatler Services Limited, Rosajul Global Resources Ltd, and
TIL Communication Nigeria Ltd.
Emefiele’s
properties forfeited to the federal government include; 94 Units of 11 Storey
building under Construction at 2, Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue (Formerly Club)
Road, iKoyi, Lagos; AM Plaza, 11 Story Office Space, Situate on 1E, Otunba
Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos; Imore Industrial Park 1,
Esa Street, Imoore Land purchased with (Deep Bive Industrial Town, Oriade LCDA,
Amuwo Odofin LGA, Lagos; Mitrewood and Tatler Warehouse (Furniture Plant at
Bogije) near Elemoro Lagos, Owolomi Village, Ibeju-Lekki LGA, Lagos and 2
properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria, Closed PFA Fund, Block B.Lot.Twin
Completed Property Lakes Estate. Lekki, Lagos
Others
include; One plot measuring 1,038.069 sqm, at Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme,
Block A, Plot 4, Foreshore Estate, Eti-Osa, LGA; Estate located at 100,
Cottonwood Coppel Texas Drive, Coppel, Texas, Owned by Lipam investment
Services; a Land at 1, Bunmi Owulude Street, (Maruwa), Lekki Phase 1, Lagos and
a Property Situate on 8, Bayo Kuku Road, lkoyi Lagos.
The
EFCC had sought an interim forfeiture of the monies and properties under Section
17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, Section
44(2)(b) of the Constitution, and the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
EFCC
requested “an interim order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the
funds held in the accounts listed in Schedule ‘A,’ which are reasonably
suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
“An
Interim order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria Properties
provided in 2nd Schedule ‘B’ which are proceeds of unlawful activities.
“An
Order directing the publication In any National Newspaper, the interim order
under reliefs 1-2 above, for anyone who Is interested in the properties and
funds sought to be forfeited to appear before this Honourable Court to show
cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture of the said properties
and funds should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
In
granting the ex-parte motion, Justice Bogoro said; “I have listened to the
submission of the applicant’s counsel and also perused the motion just moved,
together with the affidavit in support.”
The
case was adjourned to July 2, 2024, for the motion for final forfeiture.
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