Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja, challenging a recent judgment that handed over control of a large Abuja estate—comprising 753 housing units—to the federal government. The estate, located in the Lokogoma district of the capital, was seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through a court order. It was initially linked to another unnamed former government official.
However, Emefiele, represented by his lawyer A.M. Kotoye, has insisted that he has a legitimate interest in the property and should have been included in the legal proceedings. He claims he was unaware of the forfeiture process, arguing that the EFCC published the interim forfeiture notice in an obscure section of a newspaper, making it unlikely to attract attention. Emefiele further told the court that he was preoccupied with managing three ongoing criminal cases in both Abuja and Lagos, which made it even more difficult for him to become aware of the notice in time.
He accused the EFCC of intentionally concealing the case from him, despite their continued interactions with him regarding other charges. In response, the trial court dismissed his assertions, ruling that the EFCC had complied with legal procedures and that the newspaper publication was adequate. The presiding judge stated that the notice could not reasonably be considered hidden.
Following the unfavorable judgment, Emefiele filed an appeal on April 30, 2025. He is seeking to overturn the ruling delivered on April 28 and to nullify both the interim and final forfeiture orders issued in late 2024. He contends that the trial court misinterpreted his application and dismissed it without properly considering essential facts. According to him, the forfeiture orders were based on hearsay, suspicion, and lacked solid evidence.
Emefiele maintains that he has both legal and equitable interests in the estate, even though the lower court found no proof of ownership in his favor. He strongly criticized the judgment, calling it a miscarriage of justice. He argued that the trial judge failed to adequately assess the affidavits and supporting documents submitted to the court, and said the resulting decision was flawed, unconstitutional, and should be declared null and void.
Meanwhile, Emefiele’s legal team has written to the Minister of Housing, requesting a suspension of any plans to sell the estate until the appeal is concluded. The letter warned that the government appears to be preparing to auction the properties to the public, and emphasized that a notice of appeal and an injunction have already been served on the EFCC.
The federal government recently announced its intention to sell the estate as part of a broader initiative to provide affordable housing for low- and middle-income Nigerians.
