CBN Ex-Governor Emefiele

A prosecution witness in the trial of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, that $2.045 million in cash and several property title documents recovered from Emefiele’s lawyer belonged to the former apex bank chief.

The witness, David Oyesina Jaiyeoba, the 12th prosecution witness (PW12) and an investigation officer with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), gave the testimony on Friday before Justice Hamza Muazu.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel and Director of Public Prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Jaiyeoba said the investigation into Emefiele was triggered by a report sent to the EFCC by the Inter-Agency Task Force, headed by the Department of State Services (DSS).

“Several individuals, companies and government agencies were invited and interviewed and several findings were made,” he said, adding that a lot of assets and cash were recovered during the investigation and forfeited to the Federal Government.

The witness told the court that “two million dollars was discovered to have come from one Eric Ocheme Odo,” who he identified as the personal assistant to Emefiele during his tenure as CBN governor.

He said it was confirmed by the person who kept the over $2,045,000, identified as Emefiele’s lawyer, that “the cash we found in his possession was the property of the defendant”.

“We found property documents and he also confirmed that the property belonged to the defendant,” Jaiyeoba added.

Testifying further, the witness said: “My lord, funds amounting to $2,045,000.00 alongside several property title documents were recovered from Zenith Bank Plc Headquarters in Lagos in the possession of one Mr. Collins Omeife, lawyer to the defendant.

“In the course of our investigations on Collins, it was discovered that Mr. Collins Omeife had been acquiring and perfecting title documents on the instruction of the defendant.”

According to the witness, Omeife disclosed during interrogation that Emefiele usually gave him cash, including foreign currency, “precisely United States Dollars,” for the acquisition of properties.

He added that the funds were often sent through Emefiele’s personal assistant, Eric Ocheme Odoh, and that part of the money was also used to renovate some of Emefiele’s old assets.

Jaiyeoba further told the court that Emefiele’s ownership of the assets was confirmed when the defendant was invited to show cause why the assets should not be forfeited to the Nigerian Government.

The witness also testified that Emefiele approved payments for contracts to several companies, including Architekon Nigeria Limited, which he said was promoted by MacCombo Omoile, Emefiele’s brother-in-law, and Margaret Omoile, his wife.

According to him, Exhibit A1 is an internal CBN memorandum showing approval for payment for the CBN governor’s residential house in Ikoyi, Lagos, while Exhibit A2 is a contract document for the landscaping of the residence by Architekon Nigeria Limited.

He further stated that Exhibit A5 is an internal memo requesting approval to pay N97,908,416.38 to Architekon Nigeria Limited for the supply of office furniture to the CBN, which was approved by Emefiele.

The witness added that Exhibit A8 is another internal CBN memo for a contract on the provision of dedicated power at the CBN governor’s residence, with an interim certificate, also approved by the defendant.

Jaiyeoba said there was correspondence between the EFCC and Zenith Bank Plc concerning Emefiele’s accounts, noting that Exhibits ED1, ED2 and ED3 were responses received from the bank.

“Exhibit ED3 is a debit entry on the account of the defendant to the account no 2020000064, amounting to N4 million which was paid to Architekon Nigeria Ltd,” he said.

Justice Muazu adjourned the matter till 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, conspiracy to commit forgery, procurement fraud and conspiracy to commit felony.

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