COURT THROWS OUT EMEFIELE’S BID TO RECLAIM ABUJA ESTATE
Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele suffered another legal blow as an FCT High Court on Monday dismissed his attempt to reclaim a massive real estate asset in Abuja. The property—spanning over 150,000 square metres in Lokogoma and comprising 753 duplexes and apartments—had earlier been forfeited to the government following a successful application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Emefiele’s legal team argued that the notice of forfeiture had been obscurely published, making it impossible for him to contest it in time, especially as he was entangled in multiple criminal trials in both Abuja and Lagos. But Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie ruled that the half-page notice in the Punch newspaper met statutory requirements under Section 17(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act and that Emefiele failed to act within the window afforded by the law.
The judge stressed that Emefiele, though claiming interest in the property, provided insufficient grounds to merit reopening the matter. “The applicant had ample opportunity to intervene but failed to do so in a timely manner,” he ruled. The decision underscores the growing number of legal setbacks confronting the former apex bank chief as authorities continue to probe alleged corruption during his tenure.
