EFCC witness tell court $2m recovered from Emefiele’s lawyer

A prosecution witness has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court that $2 million was recovered from the lawyer of former Central Bank governor, Godwin Emefiele, as part of ongoing investigations into alleged financial crimes.

The witness, David Jaiyeoba, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), disclosed this while testifying before the court on Thursday.

According to him, the money was recovered from Collins Omeife, a lawyer said to be linked to the former apex bank chief.

Lawyer allegedly linked money to Emefiele

Jaiyeoba told the court that during interrogation, Omeife admitted the recovered funds belonged to Emefiele.

He added that the lawyer also confirmed receiving funds through Eric Ocheme, who served as Emefiele’s personal assistant.

The EFCC operative said investigators believe the money was used to acquire and renovate several properties allegedly linked to the former CBN governor.

Properties traced to the funds

Among the properties listed in court were detached duplexes located at No. 17B Hakeem Odumosu Street in Lekki Phase 1, as well as a bungalow and an undeveloped parcel of land measuring 1,919.592 square metres on Oyinkan Abayomi Drive in Ikoyi.

Jaiyeoba further told the court that investigators traced a four-bedroom duplex at 12A Probyn Road in Ikoyi to the alleged transactions.

Other assets mentioned include an industrial complex under construction on 22 plots of land in Agbor, Delta State, and eight units of semi-detached apartments on Adekunle Lawal Road in Ikoyi.

A detached duplex on Bank Road in Ikoyi was also listed among the properties allegedly linked to the funds.

EFCC lists charges against ex-CBN governor

The EFCC filed a 20-count amended charge against Emefiele in June 2023, accusing him of offences including criminal breach of trust, forgery, obtaining by false pretence, procurement fraud, and conspiracy.

Prosecutors also alleged that the former central bank chief authorised the fraudulent payment of $6.23 million from the CBN vault in Abuja in 2023.

Investigators said the payment was made under the pretext of covering expenses for foreign election observers, which they claim was a fictitious transaction.

Also read: EFCC probes alleged N10bn fraud over ‘non-existent’ Abia airport project