An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Alvan Gurumnaan has testified before an Ikeja Special Offences Court that former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele allegedly acquired properties worth billions of naira through associates while in office.
Gurumnaan said investigations linked Emefiele to several properties allegedly acquired through proxies, including luxury homes in Lagos, an estate of about 750 houses in Abuja, a factory in Delta State and a warehouse in Ogun State.
He also told the court that several assets valued at about N100 billion had been forfeited to the Federal Government following court judgments.
Emefiele is facing a 19-count charge bordering on alleged gratification, corrupt demands and abuse of office, involving transactions valued at $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion. His co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is standing trial on a three-count charge of alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts.
Gurumnaan made the allegations while continuing his evidence-in-chief under questioning by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
The witness said Emefiele’s statement was recorded during an intelligence-led investigation conducted by a special operations team under his supervision.
He alleged that Emefiele used his position as CBN governor to create a system that made it difficult for ordinary Nigerians and businesses to access foreign exchange, forcing some applicants to comply with special arrangements before obtaining the funds.
According to him, one company allegedly paid millions of dollars to Emefiele through his staff member, Monday Osazuwa.
“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 sometime ago. The second defendant was the one who later took the money to the first defendant,” Gurumnaan told the court.
He further alleged that Emefiele used his office to receive payments from businesses, citing the case of Source Computer, whose managing director was allegedly compelled to pay money to the former CBN governor before the company’s contract fees were released.
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Gurumnaan also identified several properties allegedly acquired by Emefiele through associates, saying their value exceeded what he could legitimately earn as CBN governor.
He told the court that one of the associates was a lawyer, Ifeanyi Omeke, whose office was searched during the investigation, leading to the recovery of more than $2 million in cash.
According to the witness, Omeke served as secretary to several companies and admitted to acting as a front for Emefiele.
Among the properties listed by the EFCC investigator were a pair of twin duplexes in Lekki Phase 1 and two mansions on Queens Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos.
He also told the court that Emefiele allegedly acquired a property on Adekunle Lawal Street, Ikoyi, which previously belonged to the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, where the former CBN governor served as board chairman.
Gurumnaan alleged that Emefiele sold the property to himself. The building, which comprises eight flats, has reportedly been forfeited to the Federal Government.
The witness further said investigators recovered a warehouse belonging to Emefiele in Ogun State, on the outskirts of Lagos. He claimed the facility contained several containers worth hundreds of billions of naira.
He also listed an 11-storey building under construction, comprising about 94 luxury flats, and a factory being built in Emefiele’s hometown of Agbor, Delta State, among the properties allegedly linked to the former CBN governor.
Gurumnaan added that an estate comprising about 750 houses in the Lokogoma District of Abuja was also recovered during the investigation.
During the proceedings, Emefiele’s lead counsel, Ojo Olalekan, SAN, and Omoile’s lead counsel, Kazeem Gbadamosi, objected to the testimony, arguing that it was irrelevant to the charges before the court.
However, Justice Rahman Oshodi overruled the objection, ruling that the defendants would have the opportunity to challenge the witness’s testimony during cross-examination.
The witness further told the court that Emefiele was given an opportunity to respond to some of the findings during the investigation and the recording of his statement but did not address the allegations.
Gurumnaan said the investigation uncovered additional properties allegedly acquired through proxies, some of which had been forfeited to the Federal Government. Justice Oshodi adjourned the case to November 13 for continuation of trial.
NAN
