A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of $2.045 million, seven landed properties, and shares linked to Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The order was made by Justice Akintayo Aluko on Thursday following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC, represented by Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), told the court that the forfeited items were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

According to Oyedepo, Emefiele negotiated kickbacks in return for allocation of foreign exchange to companies in need of it for their legitimate businesses.

“In the course of this investigation, it was revealed that the erstwhile CBN governor negotiated kickbacks in return for allocation of foreign exchange to some companies who were in desperate need of foreign exchange for their lawful and legitimate businesses,” he told the court.

The investigation revealed that Ifeanyi Omeke, a deputy general manager at Zenith Bank Plc, worked closely with Emefiele and ran errands for him, including purchasing and perfecting title documents for several properties in highbrow areas of Lagos.

The properties listed for forfeiture include two fully detached duplexes in Lekki Phase 1, an undeveloped land in Ikoyi, a bungalow in Ikoyi, a four-bedroom duplex in Ikoyi, an industrial complex under construction in Agbor, eight units of undetached apartments in Ikoyi, and a full duplex in Ikoyi.

The EFCC lawyer sought forfeiture of the investments to the federal government, which was granted by the judge.

The court directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper to enable anyone interested in the properties to appear before the court and show cause within 14 days why it should not be made in favour of the government.

Further hearing of the matter has been adjourned to September 5.