EFCC witness ties $2.045m, properties to Emefiele

The trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, continued on Friday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, with a prosecution witness telling the court that $2.045 million and several property title documents recovered from Emefiele’s lawyer belonged to the former apex bank chief.

The 12th prosecution witness, David Oyesina Jaiyeoba, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), made the disclosure while testifying before Justice Hamza Muazu.

Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the witness said the investigation into Emefiele was triggered by a report from an inter-agency task force headed by the Department of State Services (DSS).

According to him, several individuals, companies and government agencies were invited for questioning, leading to the recovery of cash and assets that have since been forfeited to the Federal Government.

Jaiyeoba told the court that $2.045 million was traced to Eric Ocheme Odoh, identified as Emefiele’s personal assistant during his tenure at the CBN. The money, along with property documents, was recovered from Emefiele’s lawyer, Collins Omeife, at Zenith Bank’s headquarters in Lagos.

He said Omeife admitted during interrogation that the funds and documents belonged to Emefiele and that he had been instructed to use the money to acquire and perfect titles to properties on the defendant’s behalf.

The witness added that Omeife disclosed that the former governor frequently gave him cash, including foreign currency, through his personal assistant for property purchases and renovations of existing assets.

Jaiyeoba further stated that Emefiele later confirmed ownership of the assets when asked to show cause why they should not be forfeited to the government.

The EFCC investigator also alleged that Emefiele approved payments to companies linked to his relatives, including Architekon Nigeria Limited, said to be promoted by his brother-in-law, MacCombo Omoile, and his wife, Margaret Omoile.

He presented internal CBN documents showing approvals for payments related to the furnishing, landscaping and power supply projects at the CBN governor’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, as well as a N97.9 million payment to the company for office furniture.

The court was also told that bank records showed transactions between Emefiele’s accounts and Architekon Nigeria Limited, including a N4 million payment.

Justice Muazu adjourned the case until March 5, 16 and 17, 2026, for continuation of trial.

Emefiele is being prosecuted by the EFCC on an amended 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, obtaining by false pretence, procurement fraud and related offences.