Federal High Court in Lagos has issued a ruling for the permanent forfeiture of a warehouse and 54 steel containers situated on a 1.925-hectare plot along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Magboro, Ogun State.
Gatekeepers News reports that this property is associated with Godwin Emefiele, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu delivered the ruling following a request from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for permanent forfeiture, as no individual or organisation has claimed ownership of the assets.
During a prior court session on November 28, 2024, an interim forfeiture order was granted, with the EFCC instructed to publicize the order in a national newspaper to enable any interested parties to appear and contest the forfeiture.
At the recent hearing, EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo confirmed that the commission had fulfilled the court’s directive.
He then urged the court to approve the final forfeiture under Section 44(2)(B) of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended) and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, citing the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
In his application, Oyedepo argued that the warehouse and containers were likely acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities and sought to transfer ownership of these assets to the Federal Government permanently.
After reviewing the submissions and supporting documents from the EFCC, Justice Dipeolu approved the application, finalizing the forfeiture of the warehouse and steel containers to the government.
