Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has appealed the final forfeiture of a 753-unit housing estate in Abuja belonging to him, valued at over ₦12 billion.
The property was seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and ordered forfeited to the federal government by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on December 2, 2024.
Emefelie’s Appeal
Emefiele’s legal team in their appeal argued that he was not notified of the forfeiture proceedings, despite having ongoing cases with the EFCC. They claim this lack of notification denied him his constitutional right to a fair hearing.
In April 2025, he filed a Motion on Notice to set aside the court’s order, alleging that the EFCC intentionally withheld information to prevent him from defending himself. He argued if the court had jurisdiction to grant the forfeiture through an ex parte process.
Emefiele’s lawyers describe the move to sell the properties as premature and unlawful, arguing it constitutes contempt of court and violates the legal principle of lis pendens, which forbids the sale of property involved in a legal dispute.
