The Supreme Court of Nigeria has ordered the final forfeiture of properties belonging to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, bringing an end to the legal battle over the assets.
In a unanimous decision, a five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa overturned an earlier ruling of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, which had ordered a retrial of the forfeiture case.
The Supreme Court allowed the appeal and set aside the appellate court’s judgment, thereby restoring the final forfeiture order earlier issued by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The decision effectively ends Emefiele’s challenge against the forfeiture of the assets, reaffirming the lower court’s order that the properties be permanently forfeited.
The Court of Appeal had previously nullified the Federal High Court’s ruling and directed that the matter be reheard, a decision that prompted a further appeal to the Supreme Court.
With the apex court’s latest verdict, the properties in question are now permanently forfeited, marking another significant legal setback for the former CBN governor, who has faced multiple investigations and court cases since leaving office.
The Supreme Court’s ruling is expected to bring finality to the protracted dispute over the assets linked to Emefiele and reinforces the authority of the earlier forfeiture proceedings conducted by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
