Representatives from banks have been listed among witnesses in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) charge against former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, relating to alleged fraud involving N7.8 billion and 753 housing units covering 150,462.86 square meters.
This information comes from a suit filed against Emefiele before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, obtained by Nairametrics on Friday and marked CR/350/25.
Among other allegations in the 8-count charge, Emefiele and Eric Ocheme are accused of unlawfully controlling and obtaining property situated at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, FCT, Abuja, consisting of 753 housing units measuring 150,462.86 square meters.
EFCC Charges
The ex-CBN Governor is accused of knowingly having under his control the said property, which is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained, contrary to and punishable under Section 319(A) of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 Laws of the Federation, 1990.
He is also accused of illegally transferring N167,300,000, N1,235,959,000, N2,945,331,050, N1,985,412,246, N900,000,000 and N600 ,000,000, totaling N7.8 billion, into a bank account domiciled with a financial institution.
Part of the charges reads:
“That you, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE and ERIC OCHEME (AT LARGE), between January and December 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, knowingly had under control the total sum of N167,300,000 (One Hundred and Sixty-Seven Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira Only) domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services account No: 1016232915 with Zenith Bank Plc, which sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.”
“That you, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE and ERIC OCHEME (AT LARGE), between January and December 2020 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, knowingly had under control the total sum of N1,235,959,000 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Thirty-Five Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand Naira) domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services’ account No: 1016232915 with Zenith Bank Plc, which sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.”
“That you, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE and ERIC OCHEME (AT LARGE), between January and December 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, knowingly had under control the total sum of N2,945,331,050 (Two Billion, Nine Hundred and Forty-Five Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-One Thousand Fifty Naira) domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services’ account No: 1016232915 with Zenith Bank Plc, which sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.”
Furthermore, Emefiele is accused of making a false document, contrary to Section 362(a) and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 Laws of the Federation, 1990, when he dishonestly executed a document titled “IRREVOCABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY BETWEEN MG PROPERTIES LIMITED AND HAND Y BUSINESS GLOBAL LIMITED” with the intention of causing it to be believed that the document was executed by or by the authority of H and Y Business Global Limited.
The EFCC legal team, led by Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, has listed several witnesses to substantiate its claims against Emefiele.
Some witnesses include representatives from Zenith Bank, where Emefiele previously held influence, as well as Access Bank.
These witnesses are expected to provide evidence of their investigative activities and tender documents related to the acquisition and development of the property at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, FCT, Abuja, measuring 150,462.86 square meters.
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