Justice Yellim Bogoro, in a judgment delivered on Friday, ordered the final forfeiture of various funds and investments linked to Anita Joy Omoile, a close associate of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele. The forfeited assets include a $900,000 investment traced to Omoile, as well as another $4.4 million investment linked to Deep Blue Energy Services Ltd. Additionally, ₦283 million held in a Zenith Bank account under Liman Investment Ltd, along with €20,000 and £1,999.50 traced to Exactquote Bureau De Change, were also seized.
The court granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) request to forfeit these funds to the Federal Government, ruling that they were proceeds of illicit activities. The affected funds were kept in First Bank, Zenith Bank, and Titan Bank accounts operated by individuals and entities, including Anita Omoile, Tatler Services Ltd, Rosajul Global Resources Ltd, TIL Communication Nigeria Ltd, and Deep Blue Industrial Park Ltd.
READ ALSO: Conference League: Chelsea, others battle in last 16 draw
Furthermore, several properties were forfeited, including 94 units of an 11-floor building under construction in Ikoyi, Lagos; AM Plaza, an 11-floor office space in Lekki; and Imore Industrial Park in Amuwo Odofin LGA. Other properties include Mitrewood and Tatler Warehouse, a furniture plant in Ibeju-Lekki; two properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria in Lakes Estate, Lekki; a plot in Lekki Foreshore Estate; an estate in Coppel, Texas, owned by Lipam Investment Services; land on Bunmi Olowude Street, Lekki Phase 1; and a property on Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi.
The EFCC, represented by Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Bilikisi Buhari-Bala, and six other prosecutors, argued that during his tenure as CBN Governor from 2014 to 2023, Emefiele used close associates and allies to conceal and disguise illicit funds. The commission further alleged that Omoile, who is reportedly on the run, ran an unlicensed bureau de change business through Lipam Investment Services Ltd and other entities, receiving large sums of U.S. dollars from Emefiele due to her close ties with him. She allegedly directed her associates, Esther Aderohunmu, Lucia Ewubor, and Calista Ogbonna, to deposit these funds into various accounts.
Justice Bogoro had earlier ordered an interim forfeiture of the assets and directed the EFCC to publish a notice inviting anyone with a legitimate claim to contest the forfeiture. However, in her final ruling, she dismissed an application by Leke Sanni & Associates seeking to halt the judgment. The judge held that the funds and properties were proceeds of unlawful activities and must be surrendered to the Federal Government. She questioned why those involved suddenly faced financial difficulties after Emefiele’s departure from the CBN, concluding that their activities were not legitimate business operations.
Declaring the final forfeiture, Justice Bogoro ruled, *“I find that the respondents’ activities were unlawful. Why did they suddenly have issues with dollar availability once Emefiele left office? Their transactions were not legitimate business dealings. I hold that Anita Omoile was a close associate of the former CBN governor and was unlawfully favored in accessing CBN funds. Consequently, all the listed funds and properties are finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”*
