EMEFIELE: LAGOS COURT FIXES SEPT. 12 TO HEAR APPLICATIONS ON FORFEITED ASSETS
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The Federal High Court in Lagos has set Thursday, September 12, as the hearing date for all applications in a suit seeking to permanently forfeit some cash and properties associated with Godwin Emefiele, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu set the date after hearing all of the counsel’s submissions.
At the case’s resumed hearing on Thursday, Bilikisu Buhari-Bala represented the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), while Olalekan Ojo (SAN) represented the former CBN Governor.
Another lawyer, Chibuzor Opara, has declared his appearance on behalf of the tenants of 8a Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, which is one of the properties sought to be forfeited by the EFCC to the Federal Government.
Buhari-Bala, the EFCC counsel, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for Thursday, with a report on compliance with the orders issued on August 15, 2024.
On that day, Justice Akintayo Aluko, the vacation judge at the time, ordered the interim forfeiture of a cash sum of $2,045 million USD and some landed properties associated with the accused former Central Bank Governor.
The court further ordered that the forfeiture order be published in newspapers so that interested parties might come forward to show cause why the assets should not be forfeited permanently.
Following that, Buhari-Bala informed Justice Dipeolu, who took over as vacation judge, that the EFCC had followed the court’s directives and filed an affidavit indicating that the order was published in a newspaper on August 28, 2024.
Buhari-Bala also informed the court that she had received two applications from Emefiele’s counsel, but they were not ready to be heard. She consequently asked the court for a short adjournment so that she could respond to the applications.
Emefiele’s counsel, Ojo, responded by informing the court that the petitions filed sought to halt further proceedings in the forfeiture matter.
“The law allows such an application to take precedence over the substantive application,” he said.
The Senior Advocate urged the court to adjourn proceedings till Monday, Sept 9th, for the hearing of his client’s application
However, Opara, who appeared for the occupants of No 8a, Adekunle Lawal road, Ikoyi, told the court that he is yet to have all processes filed in the matter, despite applying for same.
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He also urged the court to grant an adjournment, to enable him to file his clients processes.
After listening to all counsel, Justice Dipeolu adjourned the matter to September 12, for hearing of all applications.
Justice Akintayo Aluko on August 15th ordered the interim forfeiture of a cash sum $2, 045 million USD, and some landed properties linked to the former CBN Governor.
The judge granted the forfeiture order, after taking the submission of EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, who filed and moved the Exparte application for the order.
Apart from No 8a, Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, other properties ordered to be forfeited by the court include two fully detached duplexes of identical structures, lying, being and situated at No. 17b Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; an undeveloped land, measuring 1919.592sqm with Survey Plan No. DS/LS/340 Lying, being and situate at Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (Formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos; a bungalow lying, being and situate at No. 65a Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, (Formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos; four bedroom duplex lying, being and situate 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 2457.60sqmlying, 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 temporarily forfeited.
After granting the Exparte, the court had ordered the EFCC to publish the orders in a well-circulated national newspaper within 14 days, for any interested party to show cause and tell the court why the money and properties should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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