Emefiele Denies Ownership of Forfeited Properties

Wale Igbintade 

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has denied ownership of the forfeited $4.7 million, N830 million, and several properties recently seized by the Federal Government.

On Friday, the Federal High Court in Lagos, under Justice Yellim Bogoro, ordered the final forfeiture of the assets following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

However, in a statement issued by Emefiele’s legal team, led by Olawale Fapohunda, the former CBN governor clarified that while DeepBlue Energy Limited, established in 2009, is owned by a relative of Emefiele, it is not his property. 

The statement emphasized that the forfeited assets do not belong to Emefiele or any member of his immediate family.

Furthermore, the legal team pointed out that Justice Aneke of the same court had previously discharged an interim forfeiture order on the assets in question before the final order by Justice Bogoro.

The statement called on the public and all stakeholders to disregard any claims linking Emefiele to the forfeited properties.

 “We urge all stakeholders and members of the public to take note of this clarification and cease associating these assets with Mr. Godwin Emefiele”, it added