The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered an interim forfeiture of the sums of $4,719,054, N830,875,611, and several properties linked to the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

Justice Yellim Bogoro made the order on Thursday, May 23, 2024, following an ex-parte application by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Bilkisu Buhari.

After listening to the EFCC Counsel, Justice Bogoro in her ruling said: “I have listened to the submission of the applicant’s counsel and also perused the motion just moved, together with the affidavit in support.

“I find merit in the application and same is hereby granted as prayed.

“The applicant should publish this order in any daily newspaper circulating all over the federation for anybody interested to show cause why the final order of forfeiture should not be made. Case adjourned to July 2, for motion for final forfeiture.”

The monies forfeited to the federal government in the interim were said to be warehoused in First Bank; Titan Bank and Zenith Bank, being operated by Omoile Anita Joy; Deep Blue Energy Service Limited; Exactquote Bureau De Change Ltd; Lipam Investment Services Limited; Tatler Services Limited; Rosajul Global Resources Ltd and TIL Communication Nigeria Ltd.

His properties forfeited to the federal government includes 94 Units of 11-floor building under Construction at 2, Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue (Formerly Club) Road, iKoyi, Lagos; AM Plaza, 11-floor office space, situate on 1E, Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos; Imore Industrial Park 1, Esa Street, Imoore Land purchased with (Deep Bive Industrial Town, Oriade LCDA, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Lagos; Mitrewood and Tatler Warehouse (Furniture Plant at Bogije) near Elemoro Lagos, Owolomi Village,ibeju-Lekki LGA, Lagos and two properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria, Closed PFA Fund, Block B.Lot twin completed property in Lakes Estate. Lekki, Lagos.

Others are One plot measuring 1,038.069 sqm, at Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme, Block A, Plot 4, Foreshore Estate, Eti-Osa, LGA; Estate located at 100, Cottonwood Coppel Texas Drive, Coppel, Texas, Owned by Lipam investment Services; a Land at 1, Bunmi Owulude Street, (Maruwa), Lekki Phase 1, Lagos and a Property Situate on 8, Bayo Kuku Road, lkoyi Lagos.

The EFCC had approached the court for an interim forfeiture of the monies and properties, under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act. 14 2006, Section 44(2)(b) of the Constitution and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

Specifically, the anti-graft asked the court for the following; “An Interim Order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the funds warehoused in the accounts particularized in Schedule ‘A’ which funds are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

“An Interim order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria Properties provided in 2nd Schedule ‘B’ which are proceeds of unlawful activities.

“An Order directing the publication In any National Newspaper, the interim order under reliefs 1-2 above, for anyone interested in the properties and funds sought to be forfeited to appear before this Honourable Court to show cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture of the said properties and funds should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

A primary two pupil of Landmark School, Mgbakwu, in Awka North LGA of Anambra state, Henry Okonkwo, who was allegedly beaten to a coma by his teacher, has died.

A mild drama ensued at a federal high court in Abuja on Thursday when Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, slumped in open court.

Gambaryan, who sat behind in the courtroom, did not proceed to the dock immediately as expected when the matter was called by the registrar.

He later stood to approach the dock when Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, asked where the 2nd defendant (Gambaryan) was.

The Binance executive was assisted by one of the defence lawyers as he walked towards the dock, however, he slumped before he got there.

Gambaryan was later assisted up and made to sit in the front row.

Explaining to the judge, Mark Mordi, Gambaryan’s counsel, said his client was ill and a letter had been filed to notify the court of his health.

“My lord, the case may not certainly proceed today,” the lawyer added.

Gambaryan and Binance are standing trial over money laundering allegations.

On May 17, the court refused to grant bail to Gambaryan because the defendant was likely to “jump bail if granted to him”.

The court refused to grant the bail two months after Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance regional manager for Africa, escaped from the custody of the office of the national security adviser (ONSA) in Nigeria.

Anjarwalla was said to have escaped after guards on duty led him to a nearby mosque for prayers during the Ramadan period.

He fled Nigeria and was last reported to be in Kenya, where he was reportedly arrested by the police.

Anjarwalla and Gambaryan were both detained in February.

The defendants are also facing tax evasion charges before the same court.