The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed fresh charges against the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele.
The charges, filed before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, allege that Emefiele unlawfully acquired a housing estate comprising 753 units, and allegedly stole and controlled billions of naira in proxy accounts.
The EFCC, in the charge, marked CR/350/25 and dated Friday, May 30, 2025, accused Emefiele of colluding with one Eric Ocheme, who is reportedly at large, to acquire the property and monies.
The property is stated to be located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, FCT, Abuja.
It spans 150,462.86 square meters and comprises 753 housing units.
The EFCC previously recovered the estate from an unnamed former senior government official and obtained a forfeiture order on the property from the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja.
Emefiele, through his lawyer, A.M. Kotoye (SAN), filed a motion as an interested party in the case.
The court in its judgment however dismissed Emefiele’s motion.
Dissatisfied, he appealed the decision at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking to overturn the High Court’s forfeiture order.
The estate has now been handed over to the Federal Government, which has disclosed plans to sell it to low- and middle-income Nigerians.
Emefiele however filed a notice of injunction, urging the government to refrain from taking further action on the property until his appeal is heard.
The EFCC, in an eight-count charge naming Emefiele as the sole defendant, alleges that he knowingly controlled property reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully acquired.
The charges also claim violations under Section 319(A) of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990.
Count One alleges that Emefiele and Eric Ocheme (at large), in August 2021, knowingly controlled property located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully acquired.
Count Two states that between January and December 2019, Emefiele and Ocheme controlled ₦167,300,000 (One Hundred and Sixty-Seven Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira Only.) domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services’ Zenith Bank account which sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.
Count Three alleges that between January and December 2020, they had under their control the total sum of N 1, 235,959,000 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Thirty Five Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Nine Million Naira) domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services’ account No: 1016232915 domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc.
Count Four claims that between January and December 2021, the duo controlled ₦2,945,331,050 (Two Billion, Nine Hundred and Forty Five Million, Three Hundred and Thirty One Thousand Fifty Naira.) in Kelvito Integrated Services’ Zenith Bank account.
Count Five accuses them of controlling ₦1,985,412,246 One Billion, Nine Hundred and Eighty Five Million, Four Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty six Naira.) between January and December 2022, also in Kelvito Integrated Services’ Zenith Bank account.
Count Six alleges that they controlled the total sum of Sum of N900, 000,000 (Nine Hundred Million Naira) domiciled in Ifedigo Integrated Services’ account No: 1210750237 domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, which sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.
Count Seven claims Emefiele and his alleged accomplice knowingly had under their control sometime in August, 2021 in Abuja, the total sum of Sum of N600, 000,000 (Six Hundred Million Naira) domiciled in Ifedigo Integrated Services’ account No: 1210750237 domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, which sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.
Count Eight accuses Emefiele of forging a document in January 2021 titled “Irrevocable Power of Attorney Between MG Properties Limited and H and Y Business Global Limited” to mislead others into believing it was authorised by H and Y Business Global Limited.
The EFCC has listed 24 witnesses, including representatives from Zenith Bank and Access Bank, to testify when the trial begins.
Emefiele served as governor of the CBN from 2014 until June 2023, when he was taken into custody by the Department of State Services.
He resigned while in custody.
Emefiele faces other criminal charges in Abuja and Lagos High Courts.
