Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Court Orders Forfeiture of Emefiele’s $1.4m Bribery Gains

POSTED ON May 30, 2024 •   Metro      BY Benedicta Bassey •   VIEWS 165
Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Court/ Photo credit: Pulse

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos issued an order for the temporary seizure of $1,426,175.14, which was connected to Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was instructed by Justice Ayokunle Faji to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national publication.

Anybody who wishes to claim the cash must come before the judge within 14 days and provide justification for why they shouldn't be given to the federal government indefinitely, according to the judge.

The court order followed an ex parte application marked FHC/L/CS/232/2024, moved by EFCC counsel,  Bilikisu Buhari-Bala.

Buhari-Bala told Justice Faji that the funds were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities of Emefiele, who is currently facing three criminal trials.

She said the court was empowered by Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 to order the forfeiture of the funds.

The EFCC investigator, David Jayeoba, who deposed to an affidavit in support of the ex parte application, stated that credible intelligence led to the discovery of the funds in a bank account.

The investigator alleged that between 2021 and 2022, during a period of forex scarcity, one Uzeobo Anthony and Adebanjo Olurotimi, directors of Donatone Limited, collected bribes on behalf of Emefiele to facilitate forex approvals.

According to the investigator, payments, totaling $26,552,000, were made to Donatone’s accounts, with significant transactions on specific dates in 2021 and 2022.

“That Uzeobo Anthony and Adebanjo Olurotimi used the firm to collect bribes and gratification on behalf of Godwin Emefiele, to get approval for accessing forex. And that one of the entities (NP) paid a total sum of $26,552 million USD, into the account of firm domiciled in Titan Trust account number 2000000500.

“That the said credits came into the account of the firm on November 9, 2021: $6,450,000, November 5, 2021: $6,050,000, December 16, 2021: $5,400,000, December 23, 2021: $652,000; January 31 2022; $3,000,000 and September 21, 2022: $5,000,000.

“Investigations revealed that the funds were laundered through a foreign account in Mauritius before being returned to Nigeria.
‘As of now, the balance in the account is $1,426,175.14, which the EFCC seeks to forfeit to the Federal Government as proceeds of unlawful activities.

“Investigation further revealed that the international entities sourcing for forex were pressured into parting with huge funds to access forex during the period.

“That the signatories to the account warehousing the sum of $1, 426, 175.14 million USD, sought to be forfeited are at large and are making frantic efforts to dissipate the funds electronically.

“Based on our investigation findings, the funds sought to be forfeited are proceeds of unlawful activities of and his cronies.

“It is in the interest of justice to grant this application.”

Justice Faji after granting the interim forfeiture order adjourned till June 25 for the hearing on the final forfeiture.

Emefiele is currently facing charges bordering on procurement fraud, authorised redesign of the naira notes and forgery of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s signature to allegedly move funds out of the CBN.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Indianapolis Woman Dies in I-65 Accident Near Columbus After Return from Kentucky Event
BY ROCKETPARROT.com staff November 3, 2024 0

COLUMBUS, Ind. — A tragic accident claimed the life of Indianapolis resident Omotope G. Oyedir...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Court jails UNIPORT final-year student over internet fraud
BY Benedicta Bassey October 31, 2024 0

University of Port Harcourt(UNIPORT) final-year student, Henry Nathaniel Ekanem has been jailed over...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Bandits take over military training camp in Niger
BY Benedicta Bassey October 30, 2024 0

Bandits have reportedly taken over Niger State military training camp at Nagwamase Military Cantonme...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Many dead bodies recovered as flood hits South-Eastern Spain
BY Benedicta Bassey October 30, 2024 0

The Leader, Valencia region, Carlo Mazon said on Wednesday that several bodies have been recovered f...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
RCCG suspends pastors over homosexuality allegations
BY Benedicta Bassey October 30, 2024 0

The Redeemed Christian Church of God has announced the suspension of two ministers — Pastor Ay...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
150  sustain injury in India fireworks accident
BY Benedicta Bassey October 29, 2024 0

No fewer than 150 people were seriously injured in a fireworks accident during a temple festiva...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
VeryDarkMan petitions Abia Rep Ikwechegh for assaulting an Uber driver
BY Ebiakuboere England October 28, 2024 0

Social media critic Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, has petitioned Federal House of Represe...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Blue Line rail resumes operation after fire incident - Authority
BY Benedicta Bassey October 28, 2024 0

After a major fire outbreak at a section of the rail track on Saturday, the Lagos Metropolitan Area...

OUR CHANNELS:

OTHER ARTICLES ::

6th November, 2024
Economic Showdown: Atiku's Critique vs. Tinubu's Policies A Leadership Divide
BY ROCKETPARROT.com staff November 5, 2024 0

In a recent exchange highlighting the growing tensions in Nigeria's political landscape, former Vice...


Indianapolis Woman Dies in I-65 Accident Near Columbus After Return from Kentucky Event
BY ROCKETPARROT.com staff November 5, 2024 0

COLUMBUS, Ind. — A tragic accident claimed the life of Indianapolis resident Omotope G. Oyedir...


Adriano's Decline: From Football Glory to Favela Streets
BY ROCKETPARROT.com staff November 5, 2024 0

Health concerns arise as a recent video surfaces showing Adriano, the former Inter Milan and Brazil...


Proposed tax reform bills not against North, says Presidency
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 5, 2024 0

The Presidency has said contrary to job loss fears and perceived marginalisation of the North, the t...


Kaduna approves N72,000 minimum wage
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 5, 2024 0

The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has approved a new minimum wage of N72,000 for civil servants i...


Man Utd seal deal with Amorim as new manager — Report
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 5, 2024 0

Manchester United has finalised an agreement with Sporting Lisbon to appoint 39-year-old Ruben Amori...


Nile Group collaborates with Ooni of Ife to manage his theaters
BY Ebiakuboere England November 5, 2024 0

His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, and Nile Cinemas have inked a historic management contract fo...


Bruno Mars tops Spotify monthly listeners record
BY Ebiakuboere England November 5, 2024 0

Grammy-winning singer Bruno Mars has broken the previous record with 120,862,858 monthly Spotify lis...


South Africa to strip Chidimma Adetshina of ID documents
BY Ebiakuboere England November 5, 2024 0

Nigerian-South African Model Chidimma Adetshina faces the possibility of losing her national documen...


Senate confirms seven ministerial nominees
BY Benedicta Bassey November 5, 2024 0

The Senate has screened and confirmed seven ministerial nominees appointed by President Bola Ahmed T...


Menu