The legal team of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has denied claims that he owns the properties recently seized by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
In a statement signed by Olawale Fapohunda, Esq., on behalf of Emefiele’s legal representatives, they made it clear that the properties in question, which have been linked to Anita Joy Omoile and her companies, including DeepBlue Energy Limited, do not belong to Emefiele or any member of his immediate family.
The response from his legal team comes after reports that Justice Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi issued a final forfeiture order on the properties. However, the lawyers pointed out that Justice Aneke, another judge from 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 legal team also clarified that DeepBlue Energy Limited, which was established in 2009, is owned by a relative of Emefiele but has no direct connection to him. They stressed that the former CBN governor should not be linked to the company or the seized assets.
They also urged the public and key stakeholders to disregard reports suggesting that Emefiele had any ownership of the properties, stating that such claims misrepresent the facts.
