The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) appeal for the ultimate forfeiture of $2.045 million, seven select landed properties, and shares involving former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Godwin Emefiele is scheduled to be heard by the Federal High Court in Lagos. The EFCC was earlier ordered by the court to publish an interim forfeiture order allowing interested parties to provide justification for why Emefiele’s assets should not be ultimately forfeited to the federal government. This authorisation allowed the EFCC to temporarily seize Emefiele’s assets.
Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC’s attorney, filed a request for the final forfeiture of the $2.045 million and share certificates at the hearing that was rescheduled for October 11. He claimed that the interested party had not challenged the application. Olalekan Ojo, the interested party’s attorney (Emefiele), argued against the motion and urged the court to reject it.
Emefiele had asked the judge to halt the case while his appeal—filed with the Court of Appeal—was being heard in an effort to overturn the court’s earlier temporary forfeiture ruling. According to Justice Deinde Dipeolu, interested parties may file an appeal with the Court of Appeal, but doing so must wait for the trial court’s ruling. However, Ojo’s oral request to halt the court’s proceedings was denied by Justice Dipeolu.
Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC’s attorney, objected, stating that Emefiele never submitted an application and that the decision ultimately led to an appeal. Oyedepo contended that the court’s leave, which is required when an appeal is filed based on a combination of fact and law, was not requested, meaning the former CBN governor’s appeal could not halt the current proceedings.
