Emefiele Petitions Appeal Court Over Forfeiture Of 753-Unit Abuja Estate

Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has filed an appeal against a court judgment that granted the federal government control of a 753-unit housing estate in Abuja’s Lokogoma district.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured interim and final forfeiture orders in late 2024, initially linking the estate to an unnamed former official. Emefiele, however, claims a stake in the property and argues that he was unjustly excluded from the proceedings.

In his appeal filed on April 30, 2025, Emefiele stated he was unaware of the forfeiture due to the EFCC’s notice being published in an obscure section of a newspaper.

He also cited his preoccupation with three concurrent criminal cases in Lagos and Abuja as a reason he missed the publication.

The trial court dismissed his objections, ruling that due process was followed and the public notice was adequate.

Emefiele, however, contends that the court ignored key facts and relied on hearsay, arguing the forfeiture violated his constitutional rights and amounted to a miscarriage of justice.

He is asking the Court of Appeal to reverse the lower court’s April 28 ruling, void the forfeiture orders, and accept his January 28 application asserting legal and equitable interest in the estate.

Meanwhile, Emefiele’s legal team has petitioned the Minister of Housing to stop any planned sale of the estate, warning that the matter remains under judicial review.

The federal government had earlier announced plans to sell the estate to low- and middle-income earners.