A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered an interim forfeiture of $4,719,054, N830,875,611 and several properties linked to a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Yellim Bogoro made the order following an ex-parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC made the application through its counsel, Bilkisu Buhari and C.C Chineye.
Ruling on Thursday, Justice Bogoro held: “I have listened to the submission of the applicant’s counsel and also perused the motion just moved, together with the affidavit in support.
“I find merit in the application and same is hereby granted as prayed.
“The applicant should publish this order in any daily newspaper circulating all over the federation for anybody interested to show cause why the final order of forfeiture should not be made.
“This case is adjourned to July 2 for motion for final forfeiture.”
The monies forfeited to the Federal Government in the interim were said to be in bank accounts operated by 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.
Properties forfeited to the Federal Government in the interim include 94 units of 11-floor building under construction at 2, Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue (formerly Club Road), Ikoyi, Lagos; AM Plaza, 11-floor office space, situated 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 two properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria, Closed PFA Fund, Block B. Lot twin completed property in 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.
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The EFCC had approached the court for an interim forfeiture of the monies and properties under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act 14, 2006, Section 44(2)(b) of the Constitution and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
It sought: “An Interim Order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the funds warehoused in the accounts particularised in Schedule ‘A’ which funds 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 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.”
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