Court rejects Emefiele’s request to reclaim 753 Abuja houses forfeited to the government
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele has lost in court his bid to reclaim a vast estate in Abuja comprising 753 duplexes and apartments forfeited to the federal government.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of the estate located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone CO9, Lokogoma District, Abuja, and measuring 150,462.84 square metres.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had previously secured interim and final forfeiture orders of the property in favour of the government.
The estate was initially recovered from an unnamed former senior government official but many people linked it to Emefiele, who through his lawyer Adeyinka Kotoye SAN, eventually filed a motion as an interested party in the estate.
Emefiele sought an extension of time to apply to set aside the interim and final forfeiture orders made by the court on 2 and 24 December 2024.
He argued that
- The entire forfeiture process was conducted without his knowledge and alleged that the EFCC published the interim forfeiture notice in an obscure section of THE PUNCH, making it difficult for him to respond timely.
- He had been standing trial in three separate criminal cases across different courts in Abuja and Lagos during the period, making it practically impossible for him to discover the publication.
- The EFCC deliberately concealed the forfeiture proceedings despite their frequent interactions with him over other pending charges.
In his ruling, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie stressed that while the principle of functus officio (a court becoming powerless after delivering judgment) was argued, the court retains the authority to review its decisions under appropriate circumstances.
But he noted that Section 17(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 governs notice requirements in forfeiture proceedings.
He rejected Emefiele’s argument that the publication was obscure, saying the half-page notice in a national newspaper like The PUNCH could not reasonably be described as hidden.
Onwuegbuzie stressed that only individuals who can show a recognisable interest in forfeited property are entitled to intervene, akin to the principles governing joinder in lawsuits.
He held that Emefiele was given ample opportunity – over 14 days – to contest the forfeiture but failed to act.
The Judge dismissed the motion in favour of the EFCC.
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