The Supreme Court has ordered the final forfeiture of properties belonging to former Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The apex court overturned an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal which had ordered a retrial of the case.
A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, unanimously allowed the appeal and set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, which had nullified the forfeiture order made by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The appeal was argued on behalf of the appellant by a legal team led by Former Attorney General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi, SAN, with the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, also appearing.
The respondent, Godwin Emefiele, was represented by Olalekan Ojo and Labi Lawal, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
The apex court’s decision effectively restores the final forfeiture of the assets, bringing to an end the legal challenge mounted by Emefiele against the Federal High Court’s order.
The forfeited assets include two fully detached duplexes at 17B Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; an undeveloped parcel of land measuring 1,919.592 square metres on Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi: a bungalow at 65A Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi; a four-bedroom duplex at 12A Probyn Road, Ikoyi; an industrial complex under construction on 22 plots of land in Agbor, Delta State; eight units of apartments on Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi; and a duplex on a 2,217.87 square metre plot at 2A Bank Road, Ikoyi.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu had also ordered the forfeiture of $2.045 million in cash and share certificates belonging to Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust, which was not contested by the defendant.
