A Federal High Court recently issued a new directive in the case of Godwin Emefiele, former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor. On November 1, 2024, the court ruled to proceed with the final forfeiture of $2.045 million along with several properties linked to Emefiele, which were initially seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in August. These properties include multiple high-value real estate assets in Lagos and Delta States.

Additionally, a separate court decision awarded Emefiele N100 million in damages against the Nigerian government for violating his rights through prolonged detention without trial. The court ruled that further detention or arrest of Emefiele would require a court order, criticizing security agencies for detaining suspects before thorough investigation.

This ruling affects both the forfeiture proceedings and restrictions on Emefiele’s detention, reflecting a notable judicial stance on property rights and due process in Nigeria.