Court orders final forfeiture of $1.4m linked to Emefiele

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of another $1.4 million linked to a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele. Justice Olayinka Faji in his ruling on Thursday, agreed with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the sum was proceeds of unlawful activities and must be forfeited to the Federal Government. Through its counsel, Bilkisu Bahari-Bala, the EFCC had told the court that the sum of  $1,426,175.14 was found in the account of Donatone Limited at Titan Trust Bank (Account No. 2000000500) and that investigations confirmed the money was linked to fraudulent activities.
An affidavit deposed by an EFCC investigator, David Jayeoba, revealed that intelligence reports led to the discovery of funds concealed in Donatone Limited’s account. According to Jayeoba, the investigation uncovered a scheme involving Emefiele and his associates, including Donatone Limited directors, Uzeobo Anthony and Adebanjo Olurotimi, who allegedly helped hide and disguise the proceeds of the illicit activities.
In documents put before the court, Jaiyeoba also disclosed “that investigation revealed that Uzeobo Anthony and Adebanjo Olurotimj men are some of the brains behind the f r a u d u l e n t concealment of funds reasonably suspected to have been proceeds of unlawful activities of the erstwhile Central Bank of Nigeria’s Governor, Godwin Emefiele. “That both men were procured by Emefiele and used to conceal, retain and disguise funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
“That both men used Donatone Ltd to collect bribes and gratification on behalf of Emefiele to get approval for accessing Forex.” Justice Faji had previously issued an interim forfeiture order on May 30, 2024, before ruling on the permanent forfeiture of the funds.