JUST IN: Court Orders Forfeiture of N11.14bn Properties Linked to Emefiele

The Federal High Court in Lagos has granted an interim forfeiture order for properties worth N11.14 billion linked to Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

 Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke issued the order following a motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Rotimi Oyedepo, alleged that Emefiele acquired the properties through fraudulent means using proxies. These properties are primarily located in affluent areas of Abuja.

Additionally, three CBN staff members—Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben, Akomolafe Adebayo, and Olubunmi Makinde—were named as accomplices, accused of facilitating foreign exchange allocations in return for kickbacks.

The court has mandated the EFCC to publish the forfeiture order in a newspaper, allowing interested parties to contest the final forfeiture. 

The hearing for the final forfeiture is scheduled for June 21.