By John Obi
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court ,Lagos on Wednesday granted an order of interim forfeiture of properties valued at N11,140,000,000.00 linked to the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The judge made the order sequel to a motion ex parte filed and argued by the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo.
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 ordered the interim forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.
The judge also 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 court adjourned till the 21st of June for the hearing of the motion for final forfeiture.
