The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo has dismissed an application by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to reclaim a vast estate comprising 753 duplexes and apartments in Abuja.
The property, located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, spanning 150,462.84 square meters, was forfeited to the federal government following a ruling by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie.
Emefiele, through his counsel Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN), filed a motion seeking to set aside the interim and final forfeiture orders issued on December 2 and December 24, 2024, respectively.
He argued that the forfeiture process was conducted without his knowledge and that the notice was published in an obscure section of The Punch newspaper, making it difficult for him to respond timely.
Additionally, Emefiele contended that his ongoing trials in various courts hindered his ability to discover the publication. He further accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of deliberately concealing the forfeiture proceedings despite their frequent interactions over other pending charges.
Justice Onwuegbuzie, in his ruling, emphasized that the court retained the authority to review its decisions under appropriate circumstances. He noted that the publication of the forfeiture notice in a national newspaper like The Punch could not reasonably be described as hidden.
The judge also highlighted that only individuals who can show a recognizable interest in the forfeited property are entitled to intervene, akin to the principles governing joinder in lawsuits.
Justice Onwuegbuzie held that Emefiele was given ample opportunity—over 14 days—to contest the forfeiture but failed to act. Consequently, the court dismissed the motion, resolving the sole issue in favor of the EFCC.
The EFCC had previously secured an interim forfeiture order on November 1, 2024, and a final forfeiture order on December 2, 2024, following an application before the same judge. The commission described the estate as the largest single asset recovery since its inception in 2003.
The EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, stated that the forfeiture was in line with the commission’s mandate to ensure that individuals involved in corruption and fraud do not benefit from the proceeds of their illicit activities.
The estate, which was initially recovered from an unnamed former senior government official, has been linked to Emefiele through EFCC’s investigations.
The EFCC’s legal team relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006, as well as Section 44 (2) B of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to support their case.
This ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings involving Emefiele and underscores the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the rule of law in asset forfeiture cases.
