Warehouse, Containers Linked To Emefiele Ordered To Be Finally Forfeited
A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of a warehouse built on a 1.925-hectare land along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway in Magboro, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. The court also ordered the permanent confiscation of 54 general purpose steel containers. These properties are linked to embattled former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Obaseki.
Judge Deinde Dipeolu issued the final forfeiture order to the Federal Government of Nigeria after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) applied for the forfeiture of these assets after no individual or organization claimed them.
On November 28, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), counsel for the EFCC, filed an filed an ex parte motion with the court seeking the forfeiture of the In documents filed with the court at the time, the EFCC had stated that these assets were the proceeds of illegal activities and were reasonably suspected to be related to former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele.
Judge Dipeolu subsequently ordered the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper and ordered the interested parties to appear before the court and show cause why they should not ultimately be forfeited.
However, at the resumed hearing on Thursday, Oyedepo said the commission complied with the court’s directive. Mr. Oyedepo also submitted that the final forfeiture order was made pursuant to the inherent jurisdiction of the court under Section 44 (2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, and Section 17 of the Advance Payment Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The lawyer also asked the court to make, “a final forfeiture order to the Federal Government of Nigeria, properties contained in Schedule A; a warehouse built on a landed property measuring 1.925 hectares, lying, being and situate at Km 8, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Magboro and 54 General purpose steel containers, which are reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.”
After listening to the anti-graft agency’s lawyer and reading through all the processes filed before the court with the authorities cited, Justice Dipeolu, granted the relief sought and ordered the final forfeiture of all the assets.
Justice Dipeolu held: “The application succeeds and same is accordingly granted.
“A final forfeiture order is hereby granted forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria, properties contained in Schedule A herein which are reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.”
