Firdaus Obiremi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has accused former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, of using lawyers, aides and associates as proxies to acquire an extensive portfolio of properties, including an estate comprising about 750 houses in Abuja.
An EFCC investigator, Alvan Gurumnaan, disclosed this on Thursday while testifying before the Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos, in the ongoing trial of Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, over alleged gratification, corrupt demands and abuse of office.
Gurumnaan, the prosecution’s second witness, told the court that investigations revealed that the former CBN governor allegedly acquired several properties through associates whose financial transactions were allegedly inconsistent with their legitimate earnings.
According to the investigator, the properties linked to Emefiele include two mansions on Queens Drive, Ikoyi, twin duplexes in Lekki Phase 1, an 11-storey building comprising about 94 luxury flats and an estate of approximately 750 houses in the Lokogoma area of Abuja.
He also identified a factory under construction in Emefiele’s hometown, Agbor, Delta State, a warehouse in Ogun State and a block of eight flats on Adekunle Lawal Street, Ikoyi, among assets allegedly recovered by the commission.
The witness said the investigation uncovered a network through which the former CBN governor allegedly used intermediaries, including a lawyer, Ifeanyin Omeke, to acquire properties and handle financial transactions.
Gurumnaan told the court that investigators recovered more than $2m in cash from Omeke’s office during the investigation.
He further alleged that Omeke, who reportedly served as secretary to several companies, admitted to acting as a front for Emefiele.
The investigator also alleged that Emefiele abused his position as CBN governor by creating a system that restricted ordinary Nigerians and businesses from accessing foreign exchange, forcing some applicants to enter into special arrangements before obtaining the funds.
He cited an instance involving a company which allegedly paid about $17m through Monday Osazuwa, a staff member of the former CBN governor.
According to Gurumnaan, Osazuwa admitted during investigations that he received the money from the company and subsequently handed it to Omoile, who allegedly transferred it to Emefiele.
“One of those examples was how a company had to pay millions of dollars to the first defendant through his staff, Monday Osazuwa,” the witness told the court.
He added that Osazuwa admitted receiving approximately $17m from the company before passing the money through the second defendant to Emefiele.
The EFCC investigator also mentioned Source Computer, alleging that the company’s managing director was compelled to make payments to Emefiele before contract fees owed to the company were released.
On the properties allegedly acquired through questionable transactions, Gurumnaan said the commission had obtained court orders for the forfeiture of several assets estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of naira.
He specifically alleged that Emefiele sold a property belonging to the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company to himself while serving as chairman of the company’s board.
The property, located on Adekunle Lawal Street, Ikoyi, was reportedly a block of eight flats and had allegedly been forfeited to the Federal Government.
The witness further disclosed that a warehouse linked to the former CBN governor was recovered in Ogun State, near Lagos, with several containers allegedly worth hundreds of billions of naira.
He added that an 11-storey building under construction, containing about 94 luxury apartments, was also linked to Emefiele.
Gurumnaan maintained that the investigation established links between the former CBN governor and several properties allegedly acquired through proxies.
However, the testimony was challenged by the defence teams.
Emefiele’s lead counsel, Ojo Olalekan (SAN), and Omoile’s lawyer, Kazeem Gbadamosi, objected to the evidence relating to the properties, arguing that the allegations were irrelevant to the charges currently before the court.
But Justice Rahman Oshodi overruled the objection, holding that the defendants would have the opportunity to challenge the witness’s evidence during cross-examination.
The investigator subsequently told the court that Emefiele was given an opportunity to respond to some of the findings when his statement was recorded but allegedly failed to address the allegations.
Emefiele is facing a 19-count charge, while Omoile is standing trial on a separate three-count charge bordering on the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts.
The charges involve allegations relating to gratification, corrupt demands and abuse of office, with transactions valued at $4.5bn and N2.8tn.
The trial was adjourned until Friday, November 13, for continuation of proceedings.
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