The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the final forfeiture of a warehouse and land, alongside 54 general-purpose steel containers, following a ruling by Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The forfeited property, linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, is located at Km 8, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Magboro.
The warehouse, constructed on 1.925 hectares of land, housed steel containers filled with various shapes of sewing machines.
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An insider privy to the matter revealed to newsmen that the court issued the final forfeiture order on Thursday, December 19, 2024.
This development follows the interim forfeiture granted by the court on November 28, when the EFCC moved an application for the assets’ confiscation.
In compliance with the interim order, the EFCC published the notice in two national newspapers to allow any interested parties to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited. However, no valid claims were presented, prompting the anti-graft agency to seek final forfeiture.
During the resumed hearing, EFCC Counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, argued that the Commission had fulfilled all necessary legal requirements.
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He cited Section 44(2)(B) of the Constitution and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, in his plea for final forfeiture.
Granting the request, Justice Dipeolu declared the properties permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria, marking another victory for the EFCC in its ongoing drive to recover public assets.
The ruling highlights the EFCC’s unwavering commitment to combating corruption and recovering stolen assets, particularly in high-profile cases.