The Supreme Court has reinstated the final forfeiture of seven multi-million naira properties linked to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, completely overturning an earlier Court of Appeal decision that had halted the seizure.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, upheld the federal government’s appeal. The ruling permanently nullifies a Lagos Court of Appeal order that had thrown out the initial forfeiture and demanded a fresh trial.
With the apex court’s definitive intervention, the seven high-value properties have been permanently forfeited to the Federal Government, effectively slamming the door on Emefiele’s legal battle to reclaim the seized real estate assets.
The decision fully reinstates the original ruling of the Federal High Court in Lagos, which had initially ordered the final forfeiture after linking the properties to proceeds of unlawful activity during the former apex bank chief’s controversial tenure.
