Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Emefiele, Appeals Final Seizure Decree of 753 Housing Units Compound in Abuja
Former Central Bank Governor Appeals Property Forfeiture Ruling
The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has submitted an appeal to the Court of Appeal in Abuja, challenging a lower court's decision to grant the government control over a 753-unit housing estate in Abuja's Lokogoma district.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) previously secured a court order to seize the estate, initially linked to another unnamed former government official. However, Emefiele, represented by his attorney A.M. Kotoye, argues that he should have been included in the legal proceedings, as he has a vested interest in the property.
The embattled former governor contends he was unaware of the forfeiture proceedings due to the interim notice being published in a less conspicuous section of a newspaper and his preoccupation with three ongoing criminal cases in Abuja and Lagos. Emefiele alleges that the EFCC intentionally withheld information about the forfeiture case while engaging with him on other charges.
However, the trial court dismissed Emefiele's contention, ruling that the EFCC adhered to due process, and the newspaper notice was adequate. The judge opined that the notice could not reasonably be considered concealed.
In his appeal filed on April 30, 2025, Emefiele seeks to overturn the lower court's judgment, nullify the interim and final forfeiture orders, and approve his application submitted on January 28, 2025. He claims that the trial court misinterpreted his application, inadequately considered essential facts, and based its orders on "hearsay, suspicion, and insufficient evidence."
Emefiele asserts he holds both legal and equitable interests in the estate despite the court's claim that he failed to provide evidence of ownership. The former CBN governor argues that the orders are a miscarriage of justice and a breach of the 1999 Constitution, rendering them null and void.
Meanwhile, Emefiele's legal team has written to the Minister of Housing, urging a halt to plans to sell the estate until the appeal is resolved. The federal government has recently announced intentions to auction the estate to low- and middle-income Nigerians. The outcome of the appeal could potentially impact these plans and the public's perception of the government's efforts to address housing issues and manage seized assets.
- The appeal, filed by the former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, on April 30, 2025, is aimed at overturning a lower court's judgment regarding a 753-unit housing estate forfeited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria.
- The property, located in Abuja's Lokogoma district, is currently under government control, despite Emefiele's claim of having a vested interest in it.
- Emefiele's legal team also penned a letter to the Minister of Housing, requesting a temporary halt to the proposed sale of the estate to low- and middle-income Nigerians, until the appeal hearing takes place.
- The legal proceedings and the outcome of the appeal may significantly influence the public's perspective on the Nigerian federal government's approach to policy-and-legislation, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice matters.
- The high-profile case, involving a former governor and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), adds another layer to the ongoing discourse surrounding the Nigeria's naira-based economy and asset management practices.
