A federal high court sitting in Lagos has ordered that properties valued at N11.14bn linked to the embattled former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria be temporarily forfeited to the government.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke made the order sequel to a motion ex parte filed and argued by the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN who led Bilkisu Buhari-Bala and Chineye Okezie in the proceedings.
The court ordered the interim forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.
Oyedepo informed the court that Emefiele was suspected of having bought the choice properties by proxy, with the proceeds of fraud. The properties are mostly located in highbrow parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The EFCC also named three CBN Staff, Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben, Akomolafe Adebayo and Olubunmi Makinde as Emefiele’s accomplices who used their positions and influence to secure retail and special allocation of foreign exchange to different companies in exchange for kickbacks.
Justice Aneke has ordered the EFCC to publish the order in the newspaper for any interested party to show cause why the final order of forfeiture should not be made.
The judge adjourned till the 21st of June for the hearing of the motion for final forfeiture.
