The legal team representing former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has firmly refuted any claims linking him to the ownership of properties recently forfeited by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
In a statement signed by Olawale Fapohunda, Esq., on behalf of Emefiele’s legal team, it was clarified that the properties allegedly associated with Anita Joy Omoile and her companies, including DeepBlue Energy Limited, are not owned by Emefiele or any member of his immediate family.
The clarification comes in response to reports that Justice Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi had issued a final forfeiture order on the properties. However, Emefiele’s legal team highlighted that Justice Aneke, another judge of the same court, had previously lifted an interim forfeiture order on the same assets.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we categorically disassociate our client from the ownership of the assets in question,” the statement read. “The assets do not belong to our client or any member of his immediate family.”
The statement further explained that DeepBlue Energy Limited, incorporated in 2009, is owned by a relative of Emefiele but is not linked to him directly.
Emefiele’s legal team urged the public and stakeholders to refrain from associating the forfeited properties with him, emphasizing that the reports misrepresent the facts.
The controversy adds to the legal battles surrounding the former CBN governor, who has been the subject of various investigations in recent months.