Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, February 21, 2025, granted the final forfeiture of cash and properties linked to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele
This was contained in a statement issued by EFCC on the X official account.
The assets, which include $4,719,054 (Four Million, Seven Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Fifty-Four Dollars), N830,875,611 (Eight Hundred and Thirty Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand, Six Hundred and Eleven Naira), and several high-value properties, were seized following a motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
EFCC counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, submitted the application, citing Sections 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and 44(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution.
The Commission argued that the funds and properties were proceeds of unlawful activities.
Justice Bogoro, after reviewing the evidence presented, ruled in favour of the Commission. “The application by the EFCC has merit. The funds and properties linked to the respondents are hereby forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the judge declared.
According to the statement, the forfeited funds are spread across accounts in First Bank, Titan Bank, and Zenith Bank. The accounts are operated by Omoile Anita Joy, Deep Blue Energy Service Limited, Exactquote Bureau De Change Ltd, Lipam Investment Services Limited, Tatler Services Limited, Rosajul Global Resources Ltd, and TIL Communication Nigeria Ltd.
Furthermore, among the seized properties are 94 units of 11-storey buildings under construction at No. 2, Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue (formerly Club Road), Ikoyi; an 11-storey office complex at 1E, Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1; and AM Plaza. Other assets include the Imore Industrial Park, a furniture plant at Bogije, Ibeju-Lekki, and properties acquired from Chevron Nigeria.
Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of an estate at 100 Cottonwood Coppel Texas Drive, USA, owned by Lipam Investment Services, and several plots of land in prime Lagos locations such as Lekki Foreshore Estate and Maruwa, Lekki Phase 1.
Beyond the real estate, the ruling covers €20,000 (Twenty Thousand Euros), £1,999.50 (One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Pounds, Fifty Pence), and investments totaling over $5 million, including $900,000 in Titan Bank and $4,414,801.76 in First Bank.
The statement partly read: “The monies which are domiciled in First Bank, Titan Bank and Zenith Bank, are being operated by Omoile Anita Joy; Deep Blue Energy Service Limited; Exactquote Bureau De Change Ltd; Lipam Investment Services Limited; Tatler Services Limited; Rosajul Global Resources Ltd and TIL Communication Nigeria Ltd.”
“The properties consist of 94 units of 11 storey buildings under construction on No. 2, Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue (formerly Club Road), Ikoyi, Lagos; AM Plaza; 11 storey office space, situated on 1E, Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos; Imore Industrial Park 1, Esa Street; Imoore Land purchased with (Deep Bive Industrial Town, Oriade LCDA, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Lagos; Mitrewood and Tatler Warehouse (Furniture Plant at Bogije) near Elemoro Lagos, Owolomi Village, Ibeju-Lekki LGA, Lagos and two properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria; Closed PFA Fund, Block B Lot Twin Completed Property Lakes Estate, Lekki, Lagos”.
“Others are: a plot of land measuring 1,038.069sqm, located in Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme, Block A, Plot 4, Foreshore Estate, Eti-Osa, LGA; an estate located on 100, Cottonwood Coppel Texas Drive, Coppel, Texas, owned by Lipam Investment Services; a Land at No. 1 Bunmi Owulude Street, (Maruwa), Lekki Phase 1, Lagos and a property situated on No.8 Bayo Kuku Road, lkoyi Lagos”.
“The court also ordered the final forfeiture of €20,000 (Twenty Thousand Euros) and £1,999.50 (One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety-nine Thousand, Fifty Shillings) traced to Exactquote Bureau de Change; an investment worth $900,000 (Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars) traced to Anita Joy Omoile in Titan Bank; investment worth $4,414,801.76 ( Four Million, Four Hundred and Fourteen Thousand, Eight Hundred and one Dollars, Seventy-six Cents) traced to Deep Blue Energy Service Limited in First Bank; and N283,086,186.73 (Two Hundred and Eight-three Million, Eighty-six Thousand, One Hundred and Eighty-six Naira, Seventy-three Kobo) traced to Lipam investment Services”.
