An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigator, Alvan Gurumnaan, has alleged that former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, acquired properties worth billions of naira through associates while in office.
Gurumnaan made the allegation on Thursday while testifying at the Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos during Emefiele’s ongoing trial over alleged gratification and corrupt demands during his tenure as CBN governor.
Emefiele is facing a 19-count charge filed by the EFCC, while his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, faces a separate three-count charge bordering on the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts as an agent. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice, the investigator alleged that Emefiele created a system that restricted ordinary Nigerians and businesses from accessing foreign currencies while granting selected individuals and companies preferential access.
He cited an instance in which a company allegedly paid millions of dollars to Emefiele through his staff member, Monday Osazuwa.
“One of those examples was how a company had to pay millions of dollars to the first defendant through his staff, Monday Osazuwa,” he told the court.
“Osazuwa admitted to us in the course of investigation that he received about $17 million from the company and gave it to the second defendant. The second defendant was the one who later took the money to the first defendant.
“Furthermore, in the course of investigation, we found out that the first defendant used his office to receive the funds.”
Gurumnaan further alleged that Emefiele acquired properties through associates, with their combined value exceeding what his legitimate earnings as CBN governor could support.
He told the court that the EFCC had secured forfeiture orders against some assets linked to the former CBN governor, estimated at about N100 billion.
“He accepted and came to court that the properties belong to him. The first defendant used associates who also admitted to receiving money on his behalf,” Gurumnaan said.
“One of them is a lawyer called Ifeanyi Omeke, whose investigation led to his office and a sum of over $2 million cash was recovered.
“This same Omeke serves as a secretary to several companies and he admitted to being a front for the first defendant.
“We recovered a set of twin duplexes in Lekki Phase 1 and also two mansions in Queens Drive Ikoyi, Lagos.”
However, Emefiele’s counsel, Ojo Olalekan, and Omoile’s lawyer, Kazeem Gbadamosi, objected to the testimony, arguing that the evidence was irrelevant to the charges before the court.
Presiding judge, Rahman Oshodi, overruled the objection, stating that the defence lawyers would have the opportunity to cross-examine the witness.
Continuing his testimony, Gurumnaan alleged that Emefiele failed to address the allegations against him during interrogation.
“Although he did not address the allegation, our investigation found that the first defendant purchased many other properties through proxies, and I have mentioned some of them.
“We also discovered that the first defendant was building a factory in his hometown in Agbor, Delta sate, which has also been forfeited to the federal government.
“There is also a property, my Lord, on Adekunle Lawal Street in Ikoyi, Lagos, which the first defendant purchased. It had belonged to the Nigerian Printing and Minting Company, where he served as chairman of the board, and he sold the property to himself.
“The property, a block of eight flats in Ikoyi, has also been forfeited to the government and during our investigation, another warehouse belonging to the first defendant was recovered in Ogun state, on the outskirts of Lagos.”
The judge adjourned the case until November 13 for continuation of trial.
