20241219 201846

Court Seizes Emefiele-Linked Warehouse, Containers in Ogun

Kehinde Fajobi

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of a warehouse and 54 general-purpose steel containers to the federal government.

The properties are reportedly linked to embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Justice Deinde Dipeolu issued the ruling on Thursday concerning the warehouse, built on 1.925 hectares of land along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Magboro, Ogun State.

The decision followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which reported that no individual or organisation had come forward to claim the assets.

On 28 November, the court had initially granted an interim forfeiture order and directed the EFCC to publish the notice in a national newspaper, inviting any interested parties to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited.

During the resumed hearing, EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) confirmed that the agency had complied with the courtโ€™s directive and argued for the final forfeiture.

Oyedepo stated, โ€œThe final forfeiture application is brought under Section 44(2)(B) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act 2006, and the courtโ€™s inherent jurisdiction.

โ€œWe request the court to make a final forfeiture order to the Federal Government of Nigeria for properties listed in Schedule A: a warehouse on 1.925 hectares at Km 8, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Magboro, and 54 general-purpose steel containers, suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.โ€

After reviewing the submission and case files, Justice Dipeolu granted the application and ordered the final forfeiture of the assets to the federal government.