In the court papers obtained by SaharaReporters, the anti-corruption agency sought an “interim order of this Honourable Court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the funds warehoused in the accounts particularized in Schedule ‘A’ which funds are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of funds and properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of corruption and unlawful activities to the Nigerian government.
The funds and properties were linked to close relations and allies of the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Y. Bogoro granted the ex parte order in a judgment issued on May 23, 2024, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the interim forfeiture of the funds and properties to the government.
In the court papers obtained by SaharaReporters, the anti-corruption agency sought an “interim order of this Honourable Court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the funds warehoused in the accounts particularized in Schedule ‘A’ which funds are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
It also sought an “interim order of this Honourable Court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria properties particularized in Schedule ‘B’ which properties are reasonably suspected to have been purchased with proceeds of unlawful activities”.
The names of domiciliary account holders and details of the amounts are as follows: Omoile Anita Joy, FBN 2006310741, $11,600.29; Anita Joy Omoile, Zenith Bank 5070954448, $119,377.06; Deep Blue Energy Serv. Proj. Ac. Limited Zenith Bank 5070623908, $41,392.84; Deep Blue Energy Services Limited Zenith Bank 5070079653, $650,740.76; Exactquote Bureau De Change Ltd FBN 1000423839, $7,007.76; Lipam Investment Services Limited FBN 1000883228, $724,605.00; Anita Joy Omoile Titan Bank 0000321290, $987,819.54; Lipam Investment Services Ltd Titan Bank 0000130139, $1,814,204.44; Deep Blue Industrial Park Limited Titan Bank 0000130323, $100,000.00; Lipam Investment Services Limited Zenith Bank Limited 50771716098, $234,601.47; Tatler Services Limited Zenith Bank 5070165448, $26,691.31.
The total amount in dollar accounts forfeited under Schedule ‘A’ is $4,719,054.
The details of naira accounts forfeited under Schedule ‘A’ are as follows: Omoile Anita Joy FBN 2004228235 N128,843.07; Lipam Investment Services Limited FBN 2040018438, N2,004,657.99; Til Communication Nigeria Limited Zenith Bank 1016977706, N3,493,772.75; Omoile Anita Joy 3005768043, N3,868,032.44; and Omoile Anita Joy FBN 1000360369, N4,309,843.60.
Others are Rosajul Global Resources Ltd N457,195.96; Lipam Investment Services Limited N46,388,033.07; Lipam Investment Services Limited N50,380,709.75; Exactquote Bureau De Change Ltd N6,625,227.49; Lipam Investment Services Limited N676,284,227.49; Joy Anita Omoile N8,449,726.60; Exactquote Bureau De Change Ltd N90,267; Deep Blue Energy Services Limited N2,807,613.28; Til Communication Nigeria Limited N4,988,725.00; Lipam Investment Services Limited N6,253,524.31; Deep Blue Marine Management Limited N9,141,249.80; Anita Joy Omoile N4,196,432.86; and Deep Blue Industrial Park Limited N1,006,769.07.
The total amount in the naira accounts is N830,875,611.00.
Similarly, the court ordered that the following should be forfeited: Exactquote Bureau De Change €20,000; £1,999.50, Anita Joy Omoile Investment worth $900,000; Deep Blue Services Ltd Investment worth $4,414,801.76 and Lipam Investment Ltd N283,086,186.73.
The properties to be forfeited under Schedule ‘B’ are 94 units of 11 storey building (2nd Avenue Heights Residential Development in Ikoyi, Lagos (Under construction); AM Plaza, 11 storey office space situated on 999.78sqm at Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos (Under construction); Imore Industrial Park (Deep Blue Industrial Park Ltd) at Amuwo-Odofin in Lagos; Mitrewood and Tatler Warehouse (Furniture plant at Bogije Lagos) in Owolomi Village, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos (Ongoing); 2 properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria at Twin Lakes Estates, Lekki (Completed property); one inland plot measuring 1,038,069 sqm at Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme, Estate located at Coppel, Texas at 100, Cottonwood Drive, Texas owned by Lipam Investment Services Limited; land at Bunmi Owulude Street, Lekki, Lagos and property situated on land measuring 4,553,722 sqm at Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Also sought was an order of “this honourable court directing the publication in any newspaper, the interim order under reliefs 1-2 above, for anyone who is interested in the properties and funds sought to be forfeited to appear before this honourable court to show cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture of the said properties and funds should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria”.
“And for such order or other orders as this honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case,” it added.
The judge said having considered the ex parte application in the extant laws under which the application was brought, the affidavit supporting the application and the exhibits attached, “I find merit in the application and I hereby grant the application as prayed.
“It is hereby ordered as follows: That an interim order is granted forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the funds warehoused in the accounts particularized in Schedule ‘A’ which funds are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
“That an interim order is granted forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria properties particularised in Schedule ‘B’ which properties are reasonably suspected to have been purchased with proceeds of unlawful activities”.
The suit was adjourned to July 2, 2024, for further hearing.
In his deposition, Musa Idi, an EFCC investigator said, “That I know as a fact and verily believe that our investigation has so far revealed the followings:
“That Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele was the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2014 to 2023 and during the pendency of his tenure as the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria procured some of his close relations, cronies and/or allies to allegedly conceal and/or disguise funds which are proceed of his illegal activities in various accounts within and outside Nigeria.
“That part of the funds which represent proceeds of the said Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele and his cronies and/or allies' unlawful activities were used to acquire, renovate, construct, develop and/or tastefully renovated various properties now sought to forfeited.
“That one Anita Joy Omoile (a close relative of Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele) is one of the brains behind the fraudulent concealment of the said funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
“That some of the brains behind the fraudulent concealment are at large and are making frantic effort to electronically dissipate the said funds attached as schedule 'A' to this application, now sought to be forfeited.
“That all the huge inflow of dollars to Anita Joy Imoile by the then Governor of Central Bank Governor Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele were not legal forex allocations from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“That the said Lipam Investment Service Limited is a limited liability company registered under the CAMA with its registered office address at plot 1 Babafemi Oshoba Crescent, Lekki Lagos State.
“That the said company has two directors and signatories to their accounts which are Anita Joy Omoile and one Esther Aderohunmu.
“That the said Anita Joy Omoile is the alter-ego of the said Lipam Investment Service Limited and procured the said company to conceal and retain proceeds of unlawful activities of the then Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria.
“That the said Anita Joy Omoile is linked to all the properties and funds in the accounts attached to this application as schedule "A" and "B", now sought to be forfeited.
“That Lipam Investment Service Limited maintains several bank accounts domiciled with First Bank Limited, Zenith Bank Plc and Titan Trust Bank (as highlighted in Schedule A to this application) were in proceeds of its unlawful activities are warehoused.
“That the Commission in the cause of investigation extended invitation to the said alter-ego of Lipam Investment Service Limited to explain her link with the said funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity and itemized as schedules "A" and "B" to this application, now sought to be forfeited.
“The Applicant in a bid to prevent the dissipation of the funds sought to be forfeited filed and obtained an interim attachmentorder before the Honorable court Justice Aneke in Suit number FHC/L/CS/2485/2023, which order has now been discharged and paved way for the instant application wherein the applicant seeks an order of this Honorable Court to transfer the proprietary interest in the properties contained in schedule A and B to the Federal Government of Nigeria, same having been reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
“That the said Anita Joy Omoile deliberately refused to honour the invitation extended to her by the commission. Attached and marked Exhibit EFCC1 is a letter of invitation from the commission to Anita Joy Omoile.
“That the Commission on the 8th day of February, 202/4 obtained a warrant of arrest against the said Anita Joy Omoile who is currently on the run and hiding outside the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.
“That upon failure of the said Anita Joy Omoile to produce herself to the Jurisdiction of the court, the commission declared her and her cronies and/or allies wanted.
“Rather than submit to the Applicant and explain the weighty allegation of monumental fraud against her, she has chosen to fight from her hideout.”