22nd June, 2024
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court has ordered the forfeiture of properties valued at over N11.14bn and another N1.04 billion linked to former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele to the federal government.
The court gave the order for permanent forfeiture of the properties after hearing an application filed and argued by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Chineye Okezie.
The Court had on June 5, 2024, granted a motion by EFCC filed and argued by its counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo for a temporary forfeiture of the properties.
The EFCC lawyer told the court that the former CBN Governor was suspected of having bought the choice properties by proxy, with the proceeds of fraud.
He alleged that Emefiele used two current and one former CBN staff as accomplices in the alleged fraud.
The trio, according to the affidavit filed in support of the application, are Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben and Akomolafe Adebayo working with Olubunmi Makinde a former CBN staff and others.
The properties are mostly located in highbrow parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Justice Aneke them ordered the EFCC to publish the order for interim forfeiture in a national newspaper for any interested party to show cause why the final order of forfeiture should not be made.
The judge then adjourned for a hearing of the application for final forfeiture.
Upon resumption on June 21, no party appeared in court to contest the judge’s interim order and Chineye Okezie moved her application for the permanent forfeiture.
After reading a 41-paragraph affidavit deposed to by an EFCC Investigating Officer, Michael John Idoko, the 19 Exhibits attached, a Written Address signed by Okezie, and after hearing Okezie’s motion, Justice Aneke granted the application.
The properties were listed by the EFCC in two schedules, A and B.
Justice Aneke said: “Having carefully considered the application and submission of counsel, it is hereby ordered as follows: – that a final forfeiture order of this honourable court is hereby made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria, properties contained in Schedule A herein which were traced and reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.”
The properties include shops and apartments at Cadastral Zone Maitama and Wuse.
For Schedule B, Justice Aneke added: “That a final forfeiture order of this Honourable Court is hereby made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria, properties contained in Schedule B herein which properties were traced to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.”
The properties include lands and apartments which were paid for on behalf of Oluwaseun at a total value of N1.04 billion.
According to the affidavit, Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben and Akomolafe Adebayo working with Olubunmi Makinde “used their positions and Influence as CBN staff to secure retail and Special allocation of Foreign Exchange to different companies in exchange for kickbacks.
“That Olubunmi Makinde is the link between Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben and Akomolafe Adebayo and the various companies applying for the purchase of foreign exchange.
“That Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben and Akomolafe Adebayo as staffs of the Central Bank of Nigeria has access to the bidding processes and bidding Data of companies who has applied for the approval of form Ms to the CBN through their various commercial banks.”