Justice Yelim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has ordered the final forfeiture of $4.7 million, N830 million, and multiple properties linked to the former embattled Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.
The judge, while delivering judgment yesterday, held that all the properties and funds were proceeds of unlawful activities and, as such, must be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Justice Bogoro had earlier dismissed an application filed on the day of judgment, stating that it was tantamount to an attempt to arrest the judgment.
He granted the final forfeiture application of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by its counsel, Mrs. Bilkisu Buhari-Bala.
The funds forfeited to the federal government were held in First Bank, Titan Bank, and Zenith Bank accounts managed by individuals and entities, including Omoile Anita Joy, Deep Blue Energy Service Limited, Exactquote Bureau De Change Limited, Lipam Investment Services Limited, Tatler Services Limited, Rosajul Global Resources Limited, and TIL Communication Nigeria Limited.
Additionally, the properties affected by the forfeiture order include 94 units of an 11-floor building under construction at 2 Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos; AM Plaza, an 11-floor office space on Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, LagosImore Industrial Park 1 on Esa Street, Imoore Land, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Lagos; Mitrewood and Tatler Warehouse (Furniture Plant at Bogije) near Elemoro, Okolomi Village, Ibeju-Lekki LGA, Lagos; two properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria, located in Lakes Estate, Lekki, Lagos.
Additional properties include a plot at Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme, Foreshore Estate, Eti-Osa LGA; an estate at 100 Cottonwood Coppel Texas Drive, Coppel, Texas, owned by Lipam Investment Services; land at 1 Bunmi Owulude Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; and a property at 8 Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The judge held that the activities of the respondents were unlawful.
He queried, “Why should they have a problem with dollars immediately after Godwin Emefiele left CBN as governor, and salaries could not be paid?
“I hold that these are not legitimate business activities. I find that Anita Omoile is a close crony of the former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, who was given undue influence to unlawfully divert dollars from CBN.
“Consequently, I rule that all the monies and properties listed in the schedule are finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
The EFCC, through its counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), had cited Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and Section 44(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution in its application, seeking an interim forfeiture on the grounds that the funds and properties were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Justice Bogoro, finding merit in the EFCC’s application, ordered the interim forfeiture and mandated the publication of the order in a national newspaper.
Following the failure of the defendants or anyone else to prove that the funds legitimately belonged to them, the judge then made the interim order permanent.
