Court orders forfeiture of $2m, shares, properties linked to Emefiele

3 months ago 145

By Yetunde Ayobami Ojo

16 August 2024 | 5:39 am

Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Lagos Federal High Court has ordered interim forfeiture of a cash sum of $2.045 million linked to the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. The judge also ordered interim forfeiture of seven landed properties linked to the suspended CBN governor.

The judge granted the interim forfeiture after taking the application for the orders in a suit marked FHC/L/MISC/500/24, which was filed and moved by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).

The lands are listed as follows: “Two fully detached duplexes of identical structures, lying being and situated at No. 17b Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; an undeveloped/ bare land, measuring 1919.592sqm with Survey Plan No. DS/LS/340 at Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (Formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos; a bungalow at No. 65a Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos; four-bedroom duplex at 12a Probyn Road, Ikoyi; industrial complex under construction on a 22-plot of land in Agbor, Delta State; eight units of undetached apartment on a plot measuring 2457.60sqm at No. 8a Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, and a full duplex together with all its appurtenances on a plot of land measuring 2217.87sqm at 2a Bank Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Justice Aluko further ordered the interim forfeiture of two shares certificates of Queensdorf Global Fund Limited trust. The EFCC lawyer, in urging the court, said the money and other items sought to be forfeited are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and kickback from allocation of foreign exchange.

Justice Aluko after listening to Oyedepo’s submission granted the interim forfeiture of the money, the share certificates and the landed properties.

The judge also directed EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper, to enable anyone interested in the properties to appear before the court and show cause within 14 days, why the final order of forfeiture of the said properties should not be made in favour of the Federal Government. He subsequently adjourned further hearing of the matter to September 5, 2024.

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