A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed November 1, 2024, for ruling on an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for final forfeiture of $2.045m, seven choice landed property, and shares linked to former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu would also rule on the application filed by Emefiele to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the forfeiture proceedings.
The court had on August 25, 2024, authorised the EFCC to temporarily take custody of the Emefiele’s funds and assets.
Granting the application, the court directed the EFCC to publish the order of interim forfeiture for any person interested in the funds to show cause why it should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Friday, EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, applied for the final forfeiture of the $2.045m, as well as share certificates, which he said were not contested by the interested party.
Oyedepo adopted his written address dated August 29, 2024 and urged the court to order final forfeiture of the property to the Federal Government.
However, Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, urged the court to refuse the application.
After listening to the counsels, Justice Dipeolu adjourned the case till November 1 for ruling.
