The Supreme Court has restored the final forfeiture of several high-value properties and the sum of $2.045 million linked to former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to the Federal Government.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa allowed the appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, which had earlier nullified the forfeiture order and directed a retrial.
Justice Mohammed Idris, who delivered the judgment on behalf of the panel, upheld the 2024 decision of Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which ordered the final forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government.
The Supreme Court held that the Court of Appeal erred when it overturned the Federal High Court’s forfeiture order and directed that the matter be heard afresh.
Justice Dipeolu had, in 2024, granted the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture after finding that the Commission established that the properties and funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.
Dissatisfied with the decision, Emefiele, through his legal team led by Olalekan Ojo, SAN, appealed to the Court of Appeal.
In 2025, the appellate court allowed his appeal, set aside the final forfeiture order and directed that the case should begin afresh before the trial court.
The EFCC, however, challenged the decision at the Supreme Court through its legal team led by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, alongside Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, and Abba Mohammed, SAN.
In its judgment, the Supreme Court allowed the EFCC’s appeal, nullified the decision of the Court of Appeal and restored the Federal High Court’s final forfeiture order in its entirety.
The decision effectively brings to an end Emefiele’s legal challenge against the forfeiture order issued by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The assets forfeited to the Federal Government include seven prime properties located in Lagos and Delta State.
They comprise two fully detached duplexes at No. 17B Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; an undeveloped parcel of land measuring 1,919.592 square metres at Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi; a bungalow at No. 65A Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi; and a four-bedroom duplex at 12A Probyn Road, Ikoyi.
Also affected are an industrial complex under construction on 22 plots of land in Agbor, Delta State; eight units of apartments on Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi; and a full duplex on Bank Road, Ikoyi.
The forfeited assets also include $2.045 million in cash and share certificates belonging to Queensdorf Global Fund Limited.
Emefiele was represented at the Supreme Court by Olalekan Ojo, SAN, Labi Lawal, SAN, and Olawale Fapohunda, while the EFCC was represented by Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, and Abba Mohammed, SAN.
The judgment is a major victory for the EFCC in its asset recovery efforts and restores the Federal High Court’s order transferring the affected properties, cash and share certificates to the Federal Government by final forfeiture.
The post “Supreme Court Restores Final Forfeiture Of Emefiele’s Properties, $2.045m” — Sets Aside Appeal Court Decision, Returns Assets To FG appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.
