A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday, ordered a final forfeiture of the sum of 1.43 million dollars, linked to embattled former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC, filed the forfeiture suit.
Justice Ayokunle Faji ruled that the funds, derived from illegal activities, must be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The court consequently ordered forfeiture of same.
The court held that the anti graft agency had proved its case, establishing unlawfulness of the said funds.
The EFCC counsel, Mrs. Bilkisu Bahri-Bala informed the court that the funds had been deposited into the Donatone Ltd account at Titan Trust Bank.
She asserted that the funds were determined to be the result of illicit activities.
In a declaration of facts deposed to by one David Jayeoba, an EFCC investigating officer, he said that the commission received Intelligence report on the crime.
According to him, this led to the filing of the forfeiture proceedings.
“In the course of my investigation, the commission received intelligence which led to tracing of the funds warehoused in the Donatone Ltd.
“While investigating the monumental fraud, we discovered a huge amount of money warehoused and concealed in the account of the company, domiciled in Titan Trust Bank.
“Part of the said funds, which represent the proceeds of Emefiele and his cronies’ unlawful activities, are retained in the accounts now sought to be forfeited,” he averred.
The deponent stated that Emefiele enlisted directors to hide, keep, and disguise funds from illegal activities.
Justice Faji had on May 30, 2024, ordered interim forfeiture of the funds, which final forfeiture the court ordered on Thursday.
NAN
