Emefiele denies ownership of forfeited assets, says property belongs to relative
Godwin Emefiele, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has denied the ownership of some funds and property forfeited to the federal government.
Yellim Bogoro, the presiding judge of the federal high court in Lagos, granted the final forfeiture of $4.7 million, N830 million, and multiple properties said to be linked to Emefiele.
Reacting in a press statement on Friday by Olawale Fapohunda on behalf of his legal team, Emefiele distanced himself and his immediate family from ownership of the said properties and funds.
He said a part of the assets belong to his relatives, but asked those associating him and his immediate family with the assets to stop doing so in the interest of fairness.
Emefiele said the same federal high court had previously discharged an interim forfeiture order on the same assets, which is now ordered to be forfeited by Bogoro.
“Our attention has been drawn to recent news reports indicating that Justice Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, has granted a final forfeiture order on certain properties allegedly linked to one Anita Joy Omoile and her companies, including DeepBlue Energy Limited,” the statement reads.
“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.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, we, as the legal representatives of Godwin Emefiele, categorically disassociate our client from the ownership of the assets in question.
“For emphasis, the assets in question do not belong to our client or any member of his immediate family.
“Furthermore, information reaching us suggests that Justice Aneke of the same Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, had previously discharged an interim forfeiture order on the same assets now forfeited by Honourable Justice Bogoro.
“We urge all stakeholders and members of the public to take note of this clarification and stop associating these assets with Mr. Godwin Emefiele.”
