A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has dismissed an application filed by former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to reclaim a large estate in the city that included 753 duplexes and apartments earlier forfeited to the government.
Trial Judge, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie had ordered the final forfeiture of the estate, a 150,462.84 square meters of land located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone CO9, Lokogoma District, Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had previously obtained an interim and then a final forfeiture order of the property in favor of Federal Government.
Emefiele however accused the EFCC of deliberately concealing the forfeiture proceedings despite their frequent interactions with him over other pending charges.
The judge yesterday rejected Emefiele’s argument that the publication was obscure, stating that the half-page notice in a national newspaper like Punch could not reasonably be described as hidden.
Justice Onwuegbuzie’s ruling emphasized that although the principle of functus officio—a court becoming powerless after delivering judgment—was argued, the court retained the authority to review its decisions under appropriate circumstances.
He also noted that Section 17(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 governs notice requirements in forfeiture proceedings.
According to Justice Onwuegbuzie, Emefiele has ample opportunity over 14 days to challenge the forfeiture but failed to act. He therefore dismissed the motion, resolving the sole issue in favour of the EFCC.
Edited by Uduak Akpan-from FRCN
