The Federal High Court in Lagos has scheduled September 12 for the hearing of various applications in the ongoing case related to the forfeiture of assets tied to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Deinde Dipeolu made this decision after hearing submissions from all counsel involved.
During the hearing, Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), highlighted that the court had previously issued an interim forfeiture order on August 15, covering $2.045 million and several properties linked to Emefiele.
The EFCC was instructed to publish this order in a national newspaper to invite interested parties to show why the assets should not be permanently forfeited. Compliance was confirmed, as the publication appeared in a newspaper on August 28.
Olalekan Ojo, SAN, representing Emefiele, informed the court that he had submitted applications to stay further proceedings on the forfeiture case. Ojo requested an adjournment until September 9 to allow time for the court to address these applications.
Additionally, Chibuzor Opara, representing the occupants of one of the properties in question—No. 8a Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi—stated that he had not yet received all the necessary documents related to the case. He also sought an adjournment to prepare properly for his clients’ defense.
Justice Dipeolu, after considering the submissions, adjourned the case to September 12 for the hearing of all applications.
The forfeiture includes several properties, such as residential and commercial estates in Lagos and Delta State, as well as shares in a company owned by Emefiele.
These assets are part of the ongoing investigation and prosecution of financial misconduct associated with his tenure as CBN Governor.
The court’s next step will determine whether these assets will be permanently forfeited to the Nigerian government.
