The Supreme Court has restored the final forfeiture of seven high-value properties linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, overturning an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal that had ordered a fresh hearing of the case.

The decision followed a unanimous ruling by a five-member panel of the apex court, which upheld the appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and reinstated the judgment of the Federal High Court in Lagos ordering the final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.

The Federal High Court had ruled that the assets were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. The ruling brings to an end Emefiele's legal challenge against the forfeiture order, affirming that the seven properties will remain forfeited to the Federal Government.

The judgment was delivered on behalf of the Supreme Court panel by Justice Mohammed Idris.