Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele has been further implicated in corruption allegations after operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) discovered a receipt in his Lagos residence that tied him to the roofing of an expansive estate in Abuja. The estate, containing 753 duplexes and spread over 150,500 square meters in the Lokogoma District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has been ordered forfeited to the Nigerian government by a court ruling.
The EFCC described the estate’s forfeiture as the largest asset recovery in the commission’s history since its establishment in 2003.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court issued the final forfeiture order on Monday, following an investigation that identified the estate as being acquired through proceeds of corruption.
Located on Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, the estate includes 753 units of duplexes and other luxury apartments.
Despite no formal documentation directly linking Emefiele to the property during the investigation, EFCC operatives discovered a receipt for the roofing order during a search of his Lagos residence, which they claim provides significant circumstantial evidence of his involvement.
The former central bank governor faces multiple corruption charges, including those linked to the naira redesign policy. The trial is ongoing at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with Justice Maryann Anenih presiding. The case has been adjourned to December 4, 2024, and January 21, 2025, for the continuation of the proceedings.
Prominent human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, who had earlier criticized the EFCC for withholding the name of the estate’s owner, took to social media to express his discontent. Sowore accused the EFCC of shielding high-profile individuals implicated in large-scale corruption.
“The EFCC is afraid of the big thieves and has turned into their public relations officer,” Sowore remarked, doubling down on his claim that the estate belonged to Emefiele. He referred to insider information to support his allegations.
He further stated, “I just heard from the grapevine that the 753 duplexes forfeited by an FCT court in Apo belong to Muhammadu Buhari’s CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele.”
The EFCC cited legal provisions under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006, and Section 44 (2)(B) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution to justify the forfeiture. In court, Justice Onwuegbuzie ruled in favor of the Commission, asserting that the respondent failed to provide any credible evidence to dispute the allegations.
“The respondent has 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 judge stated. “The property is hereby finally forfeited to the federal government.”
“This forfeiture represents a significant step in our ongoing mission to curb financial crimes and recover assets obtained through fraudulent means,” an EFCC spokesperson commented.
