JUST IN: Court Orders Final Forfeiture of $4.7M, ₦830M Linked to Emefiele

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of $4.7 million, ₦830 million, and multiple properties linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele. Justice Yellim Bogoro issued the ruling on Friday, granting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) full control over the assets, declaring them as proceeds of unlawful activities.

In addition to Emefiele’s assets, the court ordered the forfeiture of $900,000 in investments linked to his close relative, Anita Joy Omoile. Further financial holdings were also seized, including $4.4 million traced to Deep Blue Energy Services Ltd and ₦283 million in a Zenith Bank account under Liman Investment Ltd. Additionally, €20,000 and £1,999.50 found in Exactquote Bureau De Change (BDC), a company linked to Omoile, were forfeited.

Justice Bogoro’s ruling came after an application by the EFCC, which argued that the funds and properties were obtained through illicit means. Following the court’s judgment, these assets will now be transferred to the Federal Government of Nigeria.