Justice Deinde Dipeolu of a Lagos Federal High Court has fixed September 12 to hear the applications on the forfeited money and properties linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele.
On August 15, Justice Akintayo Aluko had ordered an interim forfeiture of $2.045 million and some landed properties linked to Emefiele.
The judge granted the forfeiture order after taking the submissions of Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), leading Chineye Okezie and Zeenat Atiku-Bala, who moved an ex parte motion for the order on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court had directed the commission to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper so that anyone interested in the properties could appear before the court and show cause within 14 days of why it should not be made in favour of the government.
The lands are listed as two fully detached duplexes of identical structures situated at No. 17b Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; an undeveloped/bare land, measuring 1919.592sqm with Survey Plan No. DS/LS/340 lying, being situated at Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (Formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos.
Others are a bungalow lying, being and situated at No. 65a Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (Formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos; a bedroom duplex lying, being and situated at 12a Probyn Road, Ikoyi; Industrial complex under construction on a 22-plot of land, lying, being and situate in Agbor, Delta State; 8 units of the undetached apartment on a plot measuring 2457.60sqm OF lying, being and situate at No. 8a Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, and a full duplex together with all its appurtenances on a plot of land measuring 2217.87sqm lying, being and situate at 2a Bank Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Justice Aluko also ordered that two share certificates of Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust belonging to Emefiele be forfeited.
The suit marked FHC/L/MISC/500/24 was adjourned to September 5 for a compliance report.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, two lawyers, Olalekan Ojo (SAN) and A. Labi-Lawal, appeared for the embattled former CBN Governor, Emefiele; also, another lawyer, Chibuzor Opara, announced his appearance for the occupants of 8a Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
READ ALSO: Appeal Court Orders Yahaya Bello to Appear For Arraignment
The EFCC lawyer, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, said that the court fixed the matter for Thursday to enable the anti-graft agency to present a compliance report with the orders made on August 15, 2024.
Mrs Buhari-Bala also told the judge that the EFCC had filed an affidavit showing that the order was published on August 28, 2024, in a national newspaper.
She also informed the court that she had received two applications from Emefiele’s lawyer but noted that they were not yet ready for hearing. Consequently, she requested a brief adjournment to allow her time to respond to the applications.
In response, SAN Ojo, Emefiele’s counsel, explained that the filings on behalf of Emefiele aimed to halt further proceedings in the forfeiture suit. He stated, “The law says that where there is an application of such, the issue of final forfeiture should be stalled.”
Ojo emphasized that his client’s interlocutory application must be addressed and resolved before any additional proceedings can take place. He therefore requested that the court adjourn to Monday for the hearing of his client’s application.
Opara, representing the occupants of 8a, Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, informed the court that he had not yet received all relevant documents in the matter, despite having requested a search from the court. He requested an adjournment to enable him to file his client’s processes.
After considering the statements from all parties, Dipeolu adjourned the matter to September 12 for the hearing of all applications.
