- Godwin Emefiele, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has denied the ownership of assets forfeited to the Federal Government
- The Federal High Court ordered the final forfeiture of the assets
- The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission filed the final forfeiture application
A former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has denied the ownership of assets forfeited to the Federal Government on the order of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Emefiele, in a press statement issued on Friday, February 21, by Olawale Fapohunda on behalf of his legal team, said the assets belonged to his relatives.
He also exempted his immediate family from ownership of the said properties and funds. Emefiele asked those associating him and his immediate family with the assets to stop doing so in the interest of fairness.
The former CBN governor said a company, DeepBlue Energy Limited, established in 2009, is owned by his relative and not himself.
Emefiele also recalled that Justice Aneke of the same Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, had previously discharged an interim forfeiture order on the same assets now being ordered to be finally forfeited to the Federal Government by Justice Yellim Bogoro.
“Our attention has been drawn to recent news reports indicating that Justice Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, has granted a final forfeiture order on certain properties allegedly linked to one Anita Joy Omoile and her companies, including DeepBlue Energy Limited.
“It is important to clarify that DeepBlue Energy Limited, established in 2009, is owned by a relative of our client, Mr Godwin Emefiele, but not by Mr Emefiele himself.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, we, as the legal representatives of Godwin Emefiele, categorically disassociate our client from the ownership of the assets in question.
“For emphasis, the assets in question do not belong to our client or any member of his immediate family.
“Furthermore, information reaching us suggests that Justice Aneke of the same Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, had previously discharged an interim forfeiture order on the same assets now forfeited by Honourable Justice Bogoro.
“We urge all stakeholders and members of the public to take note of this clarification and stop associating these assets with Mr Godwin Emefiele,” the statement read.
Federal High Court in Lagos ordered assets forfeiture
On Friday, February 21, Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the final forfeiture of the $4.7 million, N830 million and multiple properties said to be linked to Emefiele.
The judge had earlier dismissed an application brought by an interested party seeking to stop the judgment from being delivered.
Justice Bogoro granted the final forfeiture application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and held that the properties and funds are proceeds of unlawful activities that are bound to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The forfeited funds were held in First Bank, Titan Bank, and Zenith Bank accounts managed by individuals and entities including 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.
The properties contained in the forfeiture order 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 are a plot at Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme, Foreshore Estate, Eti-Osa, LGA; an estate at 100 Cottonwood Coppel Texas Drive, Coppel, Texas, owned by Lipam Investment Services; land at 1 Bunmi Owulude Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; and a property at 8 Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Emefiele linked to 753-duplex property in Abuja as corruption probe continues
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) linked the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to a massive property in Abuja, consisting of 753 duplexes and other apartments.
The property, located in the Cadastral Zone area of the capital, spans 150,500 square meters and was recovered following a court ruling on December 2, 2024.
