A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the permanent forfeiture of $1.4 million allegedly linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Delivering the ruling on Thursday, Justice Ayokunle Faji held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) successfully proved that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities and must be forfeited to the federal government.

The EFCC, represented by counsel Bilkisu Bahri-Bala, told the court that $1,426,175.14 was discovered in an account belonging to Donatone Limited at Titan Trust Bank.

The agency alleged that its investigation traced the funds to fraudulent dealings.

An affidavit filed by EFCC investigator David Jayeoba detailed how intelligence reports led to the discovery.

The anti-graft agency claimed that Emefiele used Donatone Limited and its directors, Uzeobo Anthony and Adebanjo Olurotimi, to conceal illicit funds.

“Investigation revealed that Uzeobo Anthony and Adebanjo Olurotimi are some of the brains behind the fraudulent concealment of funds reasonably suspected to have been proceeds of unlawful activities of the erstwhile Central Bank of Nigeria’s Governor, Godwin Emefiele,” the affidavit stated.

The EFCC further alleged that both men used Donatone Ltd to “collect bribes and gratification on behalf of Emefiele to get approval for accessing forex.”

The court had earlier issued an interim forfeiture order on May 30, 2024, before granting the final forfeiture of the funds.