Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos has directed the interim forfeiture of a cash sum to the tune of $2.045m, seven choice landed properties and shares linked to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
The judge arrived at the verdict consequent upon the suit marked FHC/L/MISC/500/2 filed and moved by counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
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The two shares certificates are of Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust, while the properties are all located in the highbrow Lekki and Ikoyi parts of Lagos State and Agbor in Delta State.
The affected landed properties are two fully detached duplexes of identical structures at No. 17b Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, an undeveloped/bare land, measuring 1919.592 sqm with Survey Plan No. DS/LS/340 at Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (Formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos; a bungalow at No. 65a Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, (Formerly Queens 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; 8 units of undetached apartments 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.
Addressing the court, Oyedepo (SAN) who notified Justice Aluko that the money and other items sought to be forfeited were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, relied on Section 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006, Section 44 (2)(B) of the 1999 Constitution and the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
The senior lawyer equally supported the motion ex parte with an affidavit deposed to by an EFCC investigator, Idi Musa.
After entertaining the contention of the SAN, Justice Aluko granted the interim forfeiture of the said sum, the share certificates and the landed properties.
More so, Justice Aluko ordered the 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 of Nigeria (FGN).
Justice Aluko adjourned further hearing until September 5, 2024.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
