Emefiele Challenges Forfeiture Order: A Battle for Control of 753-Unit Estate

Former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja to challenge a judgment granting the government full control of a substantial estate in Abuja comprising 753 housing units. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had obtained a court order to seize the estate, situated in the Lokogoma district of Abuja.

Emefiele, through his legal representative, A.M. Kotoye, filed a motion as an interested party in the suit, contending that he ought to have been involved in the proceedings. He is seeking the appeal court’s reversal of the lower court’s ruling, arguing that the forfeiture proceedings were carried out without his knowledge.

Emefiele alleged that the EFCC published the interim forfeiture notice in an obscure section of a newspaper, making it difficult for him to respond in a timely manner. He is seeking an extension of time to challenge the interim and final forfeiture orders issued by the court on December 2 and December 24, 2024, respectively.

The outcome of Emefiele’s appeal will determine the fate of the 753-unit estate. Will the Court of Appeal uphold the lower court’s ruling, or will Emefiele’s appeal succeed? The case has significant implications for the parties involved and will likely attract considerable attention in the days ahead.