The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, has ordered the final forfeiture of a sprawling estate in Lokogoma District allegedly linked to embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to the Federal Government.
Presiding Judge, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, on Monday dismissed an application filed by Emefiele, who sought to reclaim the estate located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone CO9, measuring 150,462.84 square metres. The property comprises 753 duplexes and apartments.
The court upheld a previous order granted in favour of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had initially obtained interim and final forfeiture orders in December 2024.
Through his counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Adeyinka Kotoye, Emefiele filed a motion to set aside the forfeiture, claiming he was unaware of the proceedings. He argued that the EFCC published the notice in an obscure section of The Punch newspaper and that he was unable to respond due to his involvement in multiple ongoing criminal trials in Abuja and Lagos.
However, Justice Onwuegbuzie ruled that the publication met legal requirements under Section 17(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. He described the half-page notice in a national daily as sufficiently conspicuous and stated that Emefiele failed to act within the 14-day period provided by law.
The judge also affirmed that only parties who can demonstrate a clear interest in forfeited property are eligible to challenge such orders, and held that Emefiele’s motion did not satisfy this requirement.
In dismissing the application, the court resolved the matter in favour of the EFCC, solidifying the government’s claim over the estate.
This ruling marks another legal setback for Emefiele, who is already facing multiple criminal charges across various courts.
