Breaking: Supreme Court Restores Final Forfeiture of Seven Properties Linked to Emefiele

The Supreme Court has reinstated the final forfeiture of seven high-value properties linked to former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, bringing his legal challenge against the assets to an end.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, overturned an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, which had nullified the forfeiture order and directed that the case be heard afresh, Channels TV reported.

With the ruling, the Supreme Court restored the judgment of the Federal High Court in Lagos, which had ordered the final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.

The Court of Appeal had previously held that the trial court should rehear the case, effectively setting aside the forfeiture order. However, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of restoring the original judgment, ending the dispute over the ownership of the assets.

The decision means the seven properties will remain permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The ruling also marks the conclusion of Emefiele’s appeal against the forfeiture order issued by the Federal High Court.

Further details of the judgment, including the locations and descriptions of the forfeited properties, are expected to emerge.