Embattled Ex-CBN Governor, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele
A Lagos Federal High Court, has ordered final forfeiture of properties valued at over N11.140 billion and N1.04 billion linked to the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, to the Nigeria Government.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke l, who presided over the court, made the order of final forfeiture on Friday, after hearing a motion filed and argued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its counsel Chineye Okezie.
The judge had on June 5, 2024, ordered interim of the properties, while granting a motion filed an argued by the EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
In urging the court to grant the interim forfeiture of the properties, Oyedepo (SAN) told the court that Emefiele was suspected to have bought the said choice properties by proxy, with the proceeds of fraud
The EFCC named two current and one former CBN staff as Emefiele’s accomplices in the alleged fraud.
The trio, according to the affidavit filed in support of the application, are Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben and Akomolafe Adebayo working with Olubunmi Makinde a former CBN staff and others.
The properties forfeited to the Nigeria government, were mostly located in highbrow parts of the nation’s capital, Abuja.
Justice Aneke, while ordering interim forfeiture of the properties, directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper for any interested party to show cause why the final order of forfeiture should not be made.
At the resumed hearing of the final forfeiture of the properties on June 21, no party appeared in court to contest the judge’s interim order. Consequently, the EFCC lawyer, Chineye Okezie, moved the motion for permanent forfeiture, and urged the court to grant her employer’s request.
Justice Aneke, after reading a 41-paragraph affidavit deposed to by an EFCC Investigating Officer, Michael John Idoko, the 19 Exhibits attached, a Written Address signed by Okezie, and after hearing Okezie’s motion, granted the application.
In granting the final forfeiture of the properties, Justice Aneke said: “having carefully considered the application and submission of counsel, it is hereby ordered as follows: – that a final forfeiture order of this honourable court is hereby made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria, properties contained in Schedule A herein which were traced and reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.”
They include shops and apartments at Cadastral Zone Maitama and Wuse.
For Schedule B, Justice Aneke added: “that a final forfeiture order of this Honourable Court is hereby made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria, properties contained in Schedule B herein which properties were traced to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.”
These properties include, lands and apartments which were paid for on behalf of Oluwaseun at a total value of N1.04billion.
EFCC in its affidavit stated that the dou of Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben and Akomolafe Adebayo working with Olubunmi Makinde “used their positions and Influence as CBN staff to secure retail and Special allocation of Foreign Exchange to different companies in exchange for kickbacks.
The affidavit reads in part: “that Olubunmi Makinde is the link between Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben and Akomolafe Adebayo and the various companies applying for the purchase of foreign exchange.
“That Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben and Akomolafe Adebayo as staffs of the Central Bank of Nigeria has access to the bidding processes and bidding Data of companies who has applied for the approval of form Ms to the CBN through their various commercial banks.”
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