News
Court Sets Date To Hear Emefiele’s Applications On Forfeited Assests.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court has fixed, Thursday, September 12, for the hearing of all applications challenging the temporary order forfeiting $2,045,045 and some property allegedly linked to a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
The then vacation Judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko had on August 15, ordered the interim forfeiture of the money and some landed properties after listening to an ex-parte application to that effect moved by the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
The lands are listed as two fully detached duplexes of identical structures situated at No. 17b Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; an undeveloped/bare land, measuring 1919.592sqm with Survey Plan No. DS/LS/340 lying, being situated at Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (Formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos.
Others are a bungalow lying, being and situated at No. 65a Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (Formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos; a bedroom duplex lying, being and situated at 12a Probyn Road, Ikoyi; Industrial complex under construction on a 22-plot of land, lying, being and situate in Agbor, Delta State; 8 units of the undetached apartment on a plot measuring 2457.60sqm OF lying, being and situate at No. 8a Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, and a full duplex together with all its appurtenances on a plot of land measuring 2217.87sqm lying, being and situate at 2a Bank Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Justice Aluko also ordered that two share certificates of Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust belonging to Emefiele be forfeited.
After granting the ex-parte motion, the judge directed the EFCC to publish it in a national newspaper to enable anyone interested in the properties to appear before the Court and show cause within 14 days why the court should not grant the final order of forfeiture of the said properties in favour of the federal government
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, two lawyers, Olalekan Ojo (SAN) and A. Labi-Lawal, appeared for the embattled former CBN Governor, Emefiele; also, another lawyer, Chibuzor Opara, announced his appearance for the occupants of 8a Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
READ ALSO:Court Orders Seizure Of $4.7m, N830bn, Mansions, Others Linked To Ex-CBN Gov, Emefiele
The EFCC lawyer, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, said that the court fixed the matter for Thursday to enable the anti-graft agency present a compliance report with the orders made on August 15, 2024.
Mrs Buhari-Bala also told the judge that the EFCC had filed an affidavit showing that the order was published on August 28, 2024, in a national newspaper.
She further claimed that she had received two processes from Emefiele and that the applications were not ripe for hearing.
She, therefore, asked the court for a short date to enable her to respond to Emefiele’s applications.
For his part, Ojo (SAN), in his response, informed the court that the process filed on behalf of Emefiele is to stop further proceedings in the forfeiture suit.
He stated that, “The law says, where there is an application of such, the issue of final forfeiture should be stalled.”
Ojo further informed the court that his client’s interlocutory application must be heard and determined before any further proceedings.
He, therefore, urged the court to adjourn to Monday for the hearing of his client’s application.
Opara, who appeared for the occupants of 8a, Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, told the court that he was yet to have all processes filed in the matter despite applying to the court for a search.
He, therefore, urged the court for an adjournment to enable him to file his client’s processes.
Based on the development, Justice Dipeolu adjourned the case to September 12, 2024 for the hearing of the applications.
News
Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court
The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.
Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.
READ ALSO:Edo NLC Divided Over May Day Celebration
The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.
They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.
The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.
In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.
READ ALSO:JUST IN: NLC Begins Meeting With ASUU, Other Unions Over Strike
The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.
The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.
According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.
However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.
News
Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru
Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.
Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.
READ ALSO:Film Premiere: Edo In Talks With Embassies To Promote Safe Migration —Agazuma
La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.
The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.
The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.
He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.
News
Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses
The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.
DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.
A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.
READ ALSO:Xenophobic Attacks: Oshiomhole Tells FG To Retaliate Against South African Companies In Nigeria
“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.
“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.
“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.
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