Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke issued a final forfeiture order following a motion presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through their counsel, Chineye Okezie.
Earlier, on June 5, 2024, the judge had approved the EFCC’s motion for interim forfeiture of the properties, which was argued by Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN). Oyedepo stated that Godwin Emefiele, the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, allegedly purchased these properties using fraudulent funds through intermediaries.
The EFCC identified two current and one former CBN employees as Emefiele’s accomplices in the alleged scheme. The individuals named in the affidavit supporting the application were Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben, Akomolafe Adebayo, and former CBN staff member Olubunmi Makinde.
The properties in question are primarily located in upscale areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Justice Aneke instructed the EFCC to publicize the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper, allowing any interested parties to contest it.
When the hearing resumed on June 21, no parties appeared to challenge the interim order, and Chineye Okezie proceeded with the motion for permanent forfeiture. Justice Aneke reviewed a 41-paragraph affidavit by EFCC Investigating Officer Michael John Idoko, 19 exhibits, and a written address signed by Okezie. Subsequently, he granted the application.
The properties were detailed in two schedules, A and B. Justice Aneke decreed, “Having thoroughly examined the application and the counsel’s submissions, it is ordered that a final forfeiture of the properties listed in Schedule A, suspected to have been acquired with proceeds from unlawful activities, is granted to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
These properties included shops and apartments in the Cadastral Zones of Maitama and Wuse.
For Schedule B, the judge added, “A final forfeiture of the properties listed in Schedule B, acquired through illicit means, is granted to the Federal Government of Nigeria.” This included lands and apartments purchased for Oluwaseun at a total cost of N1.04 billion.
The affidavit detailed that Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben and Akomolafe Adebayo, with the assistance of Olubunmi Makinde, exploited their CBN positions to secure retail and special allocations of foreign exchange for various companies in return for kickbacks. Makinde acted as the intermediary between Teben, Adebayo, and the companies applying for foreign exchange.
Teben and Adebayo, using their access to CBN’s bidding processes and data, facilitated the approval of foreign exchange applications for these companies through their commercial banks.