Former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele has been accused of being the owner of a 753 duplex estate seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
POLITICS NIGERIA gathered that this is the largest Asset Seizure ever recorded by the anti-graft commission. A statement from the EFCC sent to this newspaper on Monday night read;
“Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, on Monday, December 2, 2024 gave a ruling on a final forfeiture of an estate in Abuja measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 Units of duplexes and other apartments.”
“This is the single largest asset recovery by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, since its inception in 2003. The Estate rests on on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja.”
“The forfeiture of the property to the federal government by a former top brass of the government was pursuant to EFCC’s mandate and policy directive of ensuring that the corrupt and fraudulent do not enjoy the proceeds of their unlawful activities. In this instance, the Commission relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud And Other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14, 2006 and Section 44 (2) B of the Constitution of the 199 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to push its case.”
“Ruling on the Commission’s application for the final forfeiture of the property, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that the respondent have not shown cause as to why he should not lose the property, “which has been reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities, the property is hereby finally forfeited to the federal government.”
“The road to the final forfeiture of the property was paved by an interim forfeiture order, secured before the same Judge on November 1, 2024. The government official which fraudulently built the estate is being investigated by the EFCC. The forfeiture of the asset is an important modality of depriving the suspect of the proceeds of the crime.”
It can be recalled that Emefiele is standing trial on several charges bordering on corruption, including in the new naira redesign before the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court in Maitama, Abuja. Speaking on the development, Former Presidential Aspirant, Omoyele Sowore confirmed that Emefiele was the owner of the said property.
“I just heard from the grapevine that the 753 duplexes forfeited by an FCT Court in Apo belong to Muhammadu @MBuhari’s CBN Gov. Godwin @GodwinIEmefiele!”
“He reportedly built this estate and more with kickbacks. But the question is why @officialEFCC opted to cover up his identity.”
I just heard from the grapevine that the 753 duplexes forfeited by an FCT Court in Apo belong to Muhammadu @MBuhari’s CBN Gov. Godwin @GodwinIEmefiele !
He reportedly built this estate and more with kickbacks. But the question is why @officialEFCC opted to cover up his…
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) December 2, 2024
