Godwin Emefiele Denies Link to Forfeited Assets, States Properties Are Owned by Relative
Godwin Emefiele, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has refuted claims of ownership regarding funds and properties recently forfeited to the Nigerian federal government. In a recent ruling, Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos granted a final forfeiture of assets worth $4.7 million, N830 million, and multiple properties allegedly linked to Emefiele.
Emefiele’s Official Statement
Reacting through a press release issued by his legal representative, Olawale Fapohunda, Emefiele firmly denied any connection between himself, his immediate family, and the forfeited assets. He clarified that some of the properties belong to a relative and urged the public to refrain from associating them with him.
Emefiele emphasized that a prior ruling from the same Federal High Court had earlier lifted an interim forfeiture order on these assets. However, in a recent development, Justice Bogoro ruled in favor of their final forfeiture.
Legal Team’s Clarification
The press statement reads:
“Our attention has been drawn to media reports indicating that Justice Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, has granted a final forfeiture order on certain assets allegedly linked to one Anita Joy Omoile and her companies, including DeepBlue Energy Limited.
“It is crucial to clarify that DeepBlue Energy Limited, which was established in 2009, is owned by a relative of Mr. Godwin Emefiele and not by Mr. Emefiele himself.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we, as the legal representatives of Mr. Emefiele, categorically state that our client does not own the assets in question, nor does any member of his immediate family.
“Additionally, we wish to highlight that Justice Aneke of the same Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, had previously dismissed an interim forfeiture order on the same assets now forfeited by Justice Bogoro.
“We urge stakeholders and the public to take note of these facts and cease associating the forfeited properties with Mr. Emefiele.”
Background on the Case
The forfeiture case has drawn significant public attention, as Emefiele, who previously served as Nigeria’s top banker, has been under scrutiny over financial transactions linked to his tenure. However, his legal representatives maintain that the allegations are misleading and that their client has no ownership ties to the assets.
External Reference
For further details on the court’s ruling, read the full report on Premium Times.
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