Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, has denied any ownership of properties recently ordered to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
In a statement issued by his legal representative, Barrister Olawale Fapohunda, Emefiele clarified that while some of the forfeited assets belong to his relatives, neither he nor his immediate family have any ownership interest in them.
Emefiele’s Response to Asset Forfeiture
The former CBN governor’s remarks follow a ruling by Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, which ordered the final forfeiture of $4.7 million, ₦830 million, and multiple properties allegedly linked to Emefiele. The ruling also included the forfeiture of:
$900,000 worth of investments traced to Anita Joy Omoile, a relative of Emefiele.
$4.4 million investment linked to DeepBlue Energy Services Ltd.
₦283 million in Zenith Bank, traced to Liman Investment Ltd.
€20,000 and £1,999.50 held in Exactquote Bureau De Change (BDC), all connected to Omoile.
The forfeiture was granted at the request of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), with Justice Bogoro ruling that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.
Legal Team Rejects Media Claims
Emefiele’s legal team strongly rejected claims that he owned the assets, emphasizing that DeepBlue Energy Limited, a company established in 2009, is owned by a relative, not Emefiele himself.
“Our attention has been drawn to recent news reports indicating that Justice Bogoro has granted a final forfeiture order on certain properties allegedly linked to Anita Joy Omoile and her companies, including DeepBlue Energy Limited,” the statement read.
“It is important to clarify that DeepBlue Energy Limited, established in 2009, is owned by a relative of our client, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, but not by Mr. Emefiele himself,” the legal team added.
The former CBN governor also pointed out that a previous interim forfeiture order on the same assets was discharged by Justice Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos, raising concerns over the latest ruling.
Calls for Fairness
Emefiele urged the public and media to stop linking him and his immediate family to the forfeited assets, insisting that they do not belong to him.
“We urge all stakeholders and members of the public to take note of this clarification and stop associating these assets with Mr. Godwin Emefiele,” the statement concluded.
As legal proceedings continue, Emefiele remains under scrutiny regarding his financial dealings during his tenure as CBN governor. The EFCC has not yet responded to his latest statement.
