Court Rejects Emefiele’s Bid to Reclaim Forfeited Abuja Estate

The Federal Capital Territory High Court has dismissed a motion filed by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, seeking to reclaim a massive real estate property in Abuja already forfeited to the federal government.

The property, located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone CO9 in Lokogoma District, consists of 753 duplexes and apartments. Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie delivered the ruling on Monday, ordering the final forfeiture of the estate.

Originally linked to a private company that later distanced itself from ownership, Emefiele had filed an application as an “interested party” in the case, claiming he had not been aware of the interim forfeiture proceedings. Through his lawyer, A.M. Kotoye, he argued that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) deliberately published the forfeiture notice in an obscure section of a newspaper, preventing him from responding in time.

However, Justice Onwuegbuzie dismissed that argument, stating that the EFCC’s half-page publication in a national daily was both adequate and publicly visible.

With the court’s ruling, the estate remains in government custody following the completion of the forfeiture process.