The Supreme Court has reinstated the final forfeiture of seven high-value properties and $2.045 million linked to former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, ruling that the assets should remain in the possession of the Federal Government.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday, the apex court overturned an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal, which had nullified the forfeiture order and directed that the matter be reheard by the Federal High Court.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris on behalf of a panel led by Justice Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa.
The court held that the appellate court was wrong to interfere with the decision of the Federal High Court, which had earlier granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s application for the final forfeiture of the assets.
According to Justice Idris, “The Court of Appeal erred when it set aside the final forfeiture order and directed that the matter be heard afresh by the Federal High Court.”
The ruling effectively restores the 2024 judgment of Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos, who had concluded that the EFCC successfully established its case for the permanent forfeiture of the assets.
Justice Dipeolu had ruled that the anti-graft agency presented sufficient evidence to justify the forfeiture of the properties and funds to the Federal Government.
Following that judgment, Emefiele, through his legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Olalekan Ojo, challenged the decision before the Court of Appeal.
In 2025, the appellate court ruled in Emefiele’s favour, setting aside the forfeiture order and directing that the case be returned to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing.
The EFCC, however, appealed the decision before the Supreme Court, arguing that the Court of Appeal wrongly overturned the lower court’s judgment.
Representing the commission at the apex court were former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), and Abba Mohammed (SAN).
In allowing the EFCC’s appeal, the Supreme Court declared that the judgment of the Court of Appeal could not stand.
“The judgment of the Court of Appeal is hereby set aside, and the final forfeiture order issued by the Federal High Court is restored in its entirety,” the apex court ruled.
Emefiele was represented before the Supreme Court by Olalekan Ojo (SAN), Labi Lawal (SAN), and Olawale Fapohunda.
The forfeited assets include two fully detached duplexes located at No. 17B Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; an undeveloped parcel of land measuring 1,919.592 square metres on Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi; a bungalow at No. 65A Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi; and a four-bedroom duplex at No. 12A Probyn Road, Ikoyi.
Also covered by the forfeiture order are an industrial complex under construction spread across 22 plots of land in Agbor, Delta State, eight apartment units on Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, a duplex on Bank Road, Ikoyi, as well as $2.045 million in cash and share certificates belonging to Queensdorf Global Fund Limited.
With the Supreme Court’s verdict, the assets are to be transferred permanently to the Federal Government in line with the final forfeiture order originally granted by the Federal High Court.
