Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has filed an appeal challenging a court ruling that approved the final forfeiture of a massive 753-unit housing estate located in Lokogoma, Abuja, to the Nigerian government.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had obtained the order after linking the estate to alleged proceeds of corruption. Initially connected to an unnamed ex-government official, Emefiele now claims a vested interest in the property and argues that he was wrongfully excluded from the legal process.
NAIJABLOGDAILY.COM
Through his lawyer, A.M. Kotoye (SAN), Emefiele contends that the court erred by granting the forfeiture order without proper notification or his involvement in the case. According to him, the interim forfeiture notice was buried in an obscure section of a newspaper, making it difficult to detect. At the time, he was juggling multiple criminal cases in Abuja and Lagos, which also affected his ability to respond.
Emefiele alleges that the EFCC deliberately hid the case from him, despite their ongoing interactions in other matters. The trial court, however, disagreed, stating that due process was followed and that the newspaper publication was adequate.
Unconvinced, Emefiele filed an appeal on April 30, 2025, seeking to:
- Reverse the court ruling of April 28, 2025
- Set aside both the interim and final forfeiture orders granted in November and December 2024
- Validate his application filed on January 28, 2025
In his appeal, Emefiele accuses the trial judge of failing to properly evaluate the evidence and affidavits, leading to what he describes as a “miscarriage of justice.” He insists the ruling was based on “hearsay, suspicion, and no proper evidence,” and further asserts that the forfeiture violates the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
Emefiele maintains that he has both legal and equitable interests in the Lokogoma estate, contrary to the court’s claim that he failed to prove ownership.
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Meanwhile, his legal team has issued a formal letter to the Minister of Housing, requesting a halt to any plans to auction the estate to low- and middle-income Nigerians until the appeal is concluded.
“We have served the EFCC with both the notice of appeal and an injunction request to prevent the sale of the properties,” the letter emphasized.
This case adds to Emefiele’s ongoing legal troubles and raises new questions about the handling of high-profile asset forfeiture cases in Nigeria.
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