The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of $2,045,000 and seven properties linked to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. The ruling, delivered by Justice Akintayo Aluko, also includes two share certificates of Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust.

The court’s decision follows an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Rotimi Oyedepo. Oyedepo argued that the assets are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The seven properties subject to the forfeiture order are:

1. Two fully detached duplexes located at No. 17b Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
2. An undeveloped land measuring 1,919.592 square meters on Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos.
3. A bungalow at No. 65a Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos.
4. A four-bedroom duplex at 12a Probyn Road, Ikoyi.
5. An industrial complex under construction on a 22-plot land in Agbor, Delta State.
6. Eight units of undetached apartments on a 2,457.60 square meter plot at No. 8a Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi.
7. A full duplex on a 2,217.87 square meter plot at 2a Bank Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

In his affidavit, Idi Musa, an EFCC investigator, detailed the allegations of fraudulent activities by Emefiele and his associates. Musa claimed that Emefiele used shell companies to launder money and acquire these properties, with the funds allegedly originating from kickbacks related to foreign exchange allocations.

The court also ordered the interim forfeiture of the shares in Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust. Justice Aluko’s decision followed the EFCC’s argument that these assets were acquired through illicit means and are therefore subject to forfeiture under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, as well as the Nigerian Constitution.

The EFCC’s application was supported by a detailed affidavit, which outlined the financial and property transactions linked to Emefiele and his associates.