Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday ordered the final forfeiture of $4.7 million, N830 million, and numerous properties linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele.
The judge, who had previously dismissed an appeal by an interested party attempting to prevent the verdict from being delivered, allowed the final forfeiture application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s counsel, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala.
The funds forfeited to the federal government were held in accounts managed by individuals and entities such as Omoile Anita Joy, Deep Blue Energy Service Limited, Exactquote Bureau De Change Ltd, Lipam Investment Services Limited, Tatler Services Limited, Rosajul Global Resources Ltd, and TIL Communication Nigeria Ltd.
While the properties affected by the interim forfeiture include 94 units of an 11-floor building under construction at 2 Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos; AM Plaza, 11-floor office space on Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos; Imore Industrial Park 1 on Esa Street, Imoore Land, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Lagos; Mitrewood and Tatler Warehouse (Furniture Plant at Bogije) near Elemoro, Owolomi Village, Ibeju-Lekki LGA, Lagos; and two properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria, located in Lakes Estate, Lekki, Lagos.
Others include a parcel at Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme, Foreshore Estate, Eti-Osa, LGA; an estate at 100 Cottonwood Coppel Texas Drive, Coppel, Texas, held by Lipam Investment Services; land at 1 Bunmi Owulude Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; and a property at 8 Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
In his decision, Justice Bogoro determined that all of these assets and monies are the fruits of illicit activity and must be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The judge held, “I find that the activities of the respondents here were unlawful. Why should they have a problem with dollars immediately after Godwin Emefiele left CBN as a governor of the bank and salary could not be made?
“I hold that they are not legitimate business activities.
“I hold that Anita Omoile is a close crony of the former CBN governor Godwin Emefiele, who has been given undue influence to unlawfully sway dollars from CBN.
“Consequently, I find that all the monies and properties in the schedule are finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
In its application, the EFCC, represented by Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), cited Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, as well as Section 44(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution, seeking an interim forfeiture on the grounds that the funds and properties were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Justice Bogoro, finding merit in the EFCC’s application, ordered the interim forfeiture and directed that the decision be published in a national daily.
Following the failure of the defendants or anybody else to prove that the cash genuinely belonged to them, the judge then made the temporary order permanent.
