A high court in the Apo area of the Federal Capital Territory has turned down an application by Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who sought to recover an estate seized by the federal government.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had in December 2024 secured the final forfeiture of the estate, which is located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone CO9 in Lokogoma District, Abuja.
The property, covering 150,500 square metres, includes 753 duplexes.
Although the estate was first tied to a company that later disowned it, Emefiele approached the court through his lawyer, claiming an interest in the property.
He asked for more time to challenge the court’s forfeiture decision, arguing that the entire process was done without his knowledge.
He said the EFCC’s publication of the interim forfeiture was placed in a part of a newspaper that made it hard for him to see.
Emefiele explained that during that period, he was facing trials in three separate criminal cases in Abuja and Lagos, which made it difficult for him to follow other legal developments.
He further accused the EFCC of not informing him about the forfeiture even though he was still engaging with the agency over other matters.
He maintained that he should have been given a fair chance to present his side.
In response, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie said the court still had powers to revisit its decision in certain situations, but only under clear conditions.
He noted that the notice for the forfeiture was published in a national newspaper and was large enough for any reader to see.
According to him, the law does not require more than that.
The judge ruled that only people who can prove their direct interest in a seized property are allowed to challenge such court orders.
In Emefiele’s case, the court held that he had enough time—over 14 days—to act but failed to do so. As a result, the judge dismissed the motion and upheld the EFCC’s right to take control of the estate.
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