Following a motion ex parte filed and argued by Rotimi Oyedepo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who represented Bilkisu Buhari-Bala and Chineye Okezie in the proceedings, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke issued the ruling.
The properties were ordered to be temporarily forfeited to the federal government by the court. Oyedepo told the judge Emefiele was thought to have purchased the desirable homes through a proxy using money obtained through fraud. The majority of the properties are found in upscale areas of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
The EFCC also named three CBN staff, Obayemi Oluwaseun Teben, Akomolafe Adebayo and Olubunmi Makinde, as Emefiele’s accomplices who used their positions and influence to secure retail and special allocations of foreign exchange to different companies in exchange for kickbacks.
Justice Aneke has ordered the EFCC to publish the order in the newspaper for any interested party to show cause why the final order of forfeiture should not be made.
The judge adjourned till the 21st of June for the hearing of the motion for final forfeiture.
