Court Orders Emefiele To Forfeit $1.4M Gained Through FX Bribes
A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of $1.4 million linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele. The funds were allegedly received as kickbacks for approving forex allocation to multinational firms during the forex crisis in the country.
Justice Ayokunle Faji, on Tuesday, June 26, 2024, ordered the final forfeiture of the funds to the Federal Government, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Detailing how the former CBN chief concealed and disguised funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, EFCC investigator David Jayeoba said that Emefiele procured two individuals, Uzeobo Anthony and Adebanjo Olurotimi, to carry out the financial crimes.
He said that when accessing dollars was difficult in Nigeria, Anthony and Olurotimi collected bribes on behalf of Emefiele.
“Between 2021 and 2022, when accessibility to forex in Nigeria was difficult, several international entities operating in Nigeria had to resort to different means to source forex. Both Uzeobo Anthony and Adebanjo Olurotimi used to collect bribes and gratification on behalf of Godwin Emefiele to get approval for accessing forex.
While a total of $26,555,000 was received by Donatus Limited, the balance in the account stands at $1,426,175.14.
“It is the balance in the account that the applicant seeks to forfeit to the Federal Government of Nigeria, which has been traced to be the proceeds of unlawful activities of Godwin Emefiele and his cronies.”
The court’s order comes just days after the same court ordered the permanent forfeiture of choice properties worth N12.18bn from Emefiele.
