ABUJA – The legal troubles for Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, have deepened. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has slammed him with a fresh set of charges. These new EFCC charges accuse him of illicitly acquiring a sprawling estate of 753 housing units in Abuja’s Lokongoma District and stashing billions of naira in proxy bank accounts during his tenure as CBN chief.
In an eight-count charge sheet filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the anti-corruption agency alleges Emefiele conspired with an individual named Eric Ocheme, who is reportedly on the run, to obtain the properties back in August 2021. These latest EFCC charges paint a picture of significant alleged financial misconduct.
A Closer Look at the New EFCC Charges
The EFCC has laid out several specific accusations in the new charges, detailing significant sums allegedly controlled by the former CBN governor:
- ₦167 Million (2019): Emefiele is accused of holding this sum in a proxy account with Zenith Bank in Abuja, suspected to be unlawfully obtained.
- ₦1.23 Billion (2020): He and Mr. Ocheme allegedly held this amount in an account for Kelvito Integrated Services at Zenith Bank (No. 1016232915), also believed to be illicit funds.
- ₦2.945 Billion (2021): The duo allegedly controlled this larger sum in the same Kelvito Integrated Services’ Zenith Bank account, again under suspicion of being unlawfully obtained.
- ₦1.98 Billion (2022): Further funds were allegedly controlled by Emefiele and his associate in the Kelvito Integrated Services’ account, with the EFCC suspecting an unlawful origin.
- ₦900 Million & ₦600 Million: Emefiele is also accused of having these amounts in an Ifedigo Integrated Services’ account with Zenith Bank (No. 1210750237), both suspected to be unlawfully obtained.
Property Seizure and Legal Pushback
This fresh wave of EFCC charges follows a recent court order that allowed the EFCC to seize the entire housing estate in question. The commission announced it handed over the property to the federal government last week. However, Emefiele is fighting back. He has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking to overturn the judgment that gave the government control of the 753-unit Abuja estate. The legal battle over the substantial property holdings continues to intensify.
By Abiodun Labi
