Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking to overturn a ruling that granted the federal government ownership of a sprawling 753-unit housing estate located in the Lokogoma area of the Federal Capital Territory.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had secured both interim and final forfeiture orders against the estate, which was initially linked to an unnamed former public official. However, Emefiele now claims an interest in the property and argues that the process leading to its forfeiture was flawed.
In his appeal filed on April 30, Emefiele, through his counsel A.M. Kotoye (SAN), contends that he was not allowed to be heard during the forfeiture proceedings, despite being a stakeholder in the property.
“I was unaware of the forfeiture,” he stated in court filings, alleging that the EFCC deliberately published notice of the proceedings in an obscure section of a national newspaper, effectively hiding it from him. He further argued that he was managing multiple criminal cases in both Abuja and Lagos at the time, making it difficult to track such publications.
The trial court had previously dismissed Emefiele’s objections, ruling that due process was followed and that the publication method used by the EFCC met legal standards. The judge held that the anti-graft agency’s actions could not reasonably be described as concealed or unfair.
Disputing that judgment, Emefiele insists that the forfeiture was based on “hearsay, suspicion, and no proper evidence,” and that he has both legal and equitable interests in the estate. He further accused the trial court of misinterpreting his arguments and failing to evaluate key affidavits and documents presented.
“The entire ruling is a miscarriage of justice,” Emefiele argued. “The orders were made in breach of the 1999 Constitution and are therefore null and void.”
He is asking the appellate court to nullify both the interim and final forfeiture orders issued on November 1 and December 2, 2024, and to grant a motion he filed on January 28 challenging the seizure.
Meanwhile, his legal team has written to the Minister of Housing, Ahmed Dangiwa, urging the federal government to suspend any planned auction of the estate until the appeal is resolved.
“We are aware that the properties may soon be sold to the public. We have already served the EFCC with a notice of appeal and an injunction,” the letter stated.
The federal government had previously announced plans to auction the estate to low- and middle-income Nigerians as part of efforts to expand affordable housing.
