Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has filed an appeal seeking to overturn a court judgment that granted the federal government final forfeiture of a 753-unit housing estate in the Lokogoma area of Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had earlier secured a court order for the permanent forfeiture of the estate, which was originally linked to an unnamed former public official.
Emefiele, through his counsel, A.M. Kotoye (SAN), is challenging the forfeiture on the grounds that he was not given the opportunity to participate in the legal proceedings, despite his legal and equitable interest in the property.
In the appeal dated April 30, 2025, Emefiele is seeking five reliefs from the Court of Appeal, including a request to set aside the judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, delivered on April 28, 2025, by Justice J.O. Onwuegbuzie.
Claims of Exclusion and Concealment
Emefiele’s legal team argued that both the interim and final forfeiture orders—issued on December 2 and December 24, 2024, respectively—were made without his knowledge or involvement. He alleged that the EFCC published the notice of interim forfeiture in an obscure section of a national newspaper, making it difficult for him to respond on time.
He further claimed that his inability to act promptly was due to his ongoing criminal trials in multiple courts in Abuja and Lagos during the relevant period.
According to the appeal, Emefiele maintained that there was no legal breach in the acquisition of the property that would justify invoking Section 44(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution or Section 17(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act. He described the forfeiture as unconstitutional and the court’s ruling as a legal nullity, arguing that it was based on conjecture and hearsay.
Trial Court Rejection
Justice Onwuegbuzie, in dismissing Emefiele’s earlier motion, ruled that the EFCC had complied with statutory notice requirements under Section 17(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act. The court also held that a half-page notice published in a national newspaper could not be considered “obscure.”
Dissatisfied with the ruling, Emefiele’s appeal insists that due process was not followed and that the property was unjustly forfeited without affording him fair hearing.
Appeal Notification to Housing Ministry
In a related development, a letter dated May 26, 2025, was sent by Emefiele’s legal team to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, urging a halt on further action regarding the disputed property.
The letter, signed by A.O.M. Adebowale, drew the Minister’s attention to the pending appeal and stated that the EFCC and other parties had been duly served with the notice of appeal and an injunction request.
“We are aware that the properties have been handed over to the Ministry of Works and Housing for auction to the general public. In light of the ongoing appeal, we respectfully request that all further actions be stayed pending judicial determination,” the letter read.
As of this report, there has been no official response from the Ministry of Housing or the EFCC regarding the appeal or the request to halt further transactions on the forfeited estate.
