The applications regarding the forfeited funds and properties connected to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele will be heard by Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Lagos Federal High Court on September 12.
On August 15, Justice Akintayo Aluko issued an order for the temporary confiscation of several landed properties connected to Emefiele as well as $2.045 million.
Following the submissions of Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), led Chineye Okezie and Zeenat Atiku-Bala, who moved an ex parte motion for the order on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the judge issued the forfeiture order.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the following additional properties: a bungalow located at 65a Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos; two fully detached duplexes of identical structures lying at 17B Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; an undeveloped land measuring 1919.592 square meters with a survey plan number DS/LS/340 lying at Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos; and a four-bedroom duplex lying at 12A Probyn Road, Ikoyi.
Some of the other properties are an industrial complex that is presently under construction on a 22-plot land located in Agbor, Delta State; eight units of an undetached apartment on a plot measuring 2457.60 square meters located at 8A Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi; and a complete duplex with all of its accessories on a plot measuring 2217.87 square meters located at 2A Bank Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Additionally, Emefiele’s share certificates of Queensdorf Global Fund Limited were ordered to be forfeited by Judge Aluko.
After granting the ex parte application, the judge gave the EFCC 14 days to publish the orders in a nationally distributed newspaper so that any interested parties might present their case to the court and argue why the funds and assets shouldn’t be forfeited in the end.
Bilikisu Buhari-Bala represented the EFCC at yesterday’s resumption of the hearing, while A. Labi-Lawal and Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN) represented Emefiele.