The Supreme Court has restored the final forfeiture of several high-value properties and the sum of $2.045 million linked to former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to the Federal Government.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa allowed the appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, which had earlier nullified the forfeiture order and directed a retrial.

Justice Mohammed Idris, who delivered the judgment on behalf of the panel, upheld the 2024 decision of Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which ordered the final forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government.

The Supreme Court held that the Court of Appeal erred when it overturned the Federal High Court’s forfeiture order and directed that the matter be heard afresh.

Justice Dipeolu had, in 2024, granted the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture after finding that the Commission established that the properties and funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.

Dissatisfied with the decision, Emefiele, through his legal team led by Olalekan Ojo, SAN, appealed to the Court of Appeal.

In 2025, the appellate court allowed his appeal, set aside the final forfeiture order and directed that the case should begin afresh before the trial court.

The EFCC, however, challenged the decision at the Supreme Court through its legal team led by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, alongside Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, and Abba Mohammed, SAN.

In its judgment, the Supreme Court allowed the EFCC’s appeal, nullified the decision of the Court of Appeal and restored the Federal High Court’s final forfeiture order in its entirety.

The decision effectively brings to an end Emefiele’s legal challenge against the forfeiture order issued by the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The assets forfeited to the Federal Government include seven prime properties located in Lagos and Delta State.

They comprise two fully detached duplexes at No. 17B Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; an undeveloped parcel of land measuring 1,919.592 square metres at Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi; a bungalow at No. 65A Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi; and a four-bedroom duplex at 12A Probyn Road, Ikoyi.

Also affected are an industrial complex under construction on 22 plots of land in Agbor, Delta State; eight units of apartments on Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi; and a full duplex on Bank Road, Ikoyi.

The forfeited assets also include $2.045 million in cash and share certificates belonging to Queensdorf Global Fund Limited.

Emefiele was represented at the Supreme Court by Olalekan Ojo, SAN, Labi Lawal, SAN, and Olawale Fapohunda, while the EFCC was represented by Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, and Abba Mohammed, SAN.

The judgment is a major victory for the EFCC in its asset recovery efforts and restores the Federal High Court’s order transferring the affected properties, cash and share certificates to the Federal Government by final forfeiture.

Follow Our WhatsApp Channel _______________________________________________________________________ LAWBREED NEW WIG SPECIAL OFFER — Give a newly called lawyer a lasting professional gift. Get up to 20% off selected LAWBREED Supreme Court Reports, plus access to My S.C Extra, featuring Supreme Court judgments from 1972 to date. Call/WhatsApp: 08077011741 | 08077011755 | 08077011730 | 08023269613 Email: orders@lawbreed.com | mails@lawbreed.com LAWBREED — Equipping You For Greater Success! _______________________________________________________________________

“Order Justice Omolaye-Ajileye’s Electronic Evidence Books Now” — Essential Guides On Evidence Act, Case Law And Digital Proof

Two leading books on electronic evidence by Hon. Justice Professor Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye, Rtd., PhD, FICMC, are now available for purchase. The publications, Electronic Evidence (Second Edition), With The Evidence Act, 2011 and Compendium Of Cases On Electronic Evidence, Volume II, 2020–2025, provide practical guidance, legal analysis and recent judicial authorities on electronic evidence in Nigeria.Order directly from the author here: https://velvety-cendol-7387ed.netlify.app/ _______________________________________________________________________

[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials

“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.

Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation

______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence

Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via: 0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888 Website: www.alexandernigeria.com

______________________________________________________________________ Groundbreaking Guide For Lawyers: Adigwe Publishes ‘Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers’ With Free Research eBook As an added bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE ebook titled: “How to use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion.” Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating: "....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic." How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626 Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACiarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.