By Kolawole Ojebisi
A warehouse and 54 steel containers located on a 1.925-hectare plot along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Magboro, Ogun State, has been permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the forfeiture a month after no individual or organisation showed up to claim ownership of the property lying fallow despite publication to that effect in national newspapers.
The property is reportedly linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu issued the order in a ruling on Thursday following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) for the permanent forfeiture of the property.
At the last sitting on November 28, 2024, the court granted an interim forfeiture of the assets and directed the EFCC to publicise the order in a national newspaper to allow interested parties to appear before the court and show cause why the property should not be permanently forfeited.
At Thursday’s hearing, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that the commission had complied with the directive.
He further urged the court to approve the final forfeiture under Section 44(2)(B) of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended), Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, and the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
In his application, Oyedepo asked the court to permanently transfer ownership of the warehouse and containers to the Federal Government, arguing that the assets were suspected to have been acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities.
After reviewing the EFCC’s submissions and supporting documents, Justice Dipeolu granted the application and ordered the final forfeiture of the warehouse and steel containers to the government.
