Godwin Emefiele, former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, is now facing eight fresh charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged illegal possession of billions of naira through proxy accounts and the unlawful acquisition of 753 housing units in Abuja.
According to the EFCC, in August 2021, Emefiele, in collaboration with a fugitive associate, Eric Ocheme, conspired to fraudulently acquire an estate located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District.
These allegations are outlined in an eight-count charge presented before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
The EFCC also claimed that Emefiele laundered billions of naira through corporate accounts operated in the names of Kelvito Integrated Services and Ifedigo Integrated Services.
The commission alleges that these funds are suspected to be proceeds from unlawful activities carried out during Emefiele’s tenure as CBN governor.
EFCC stated that between January and December 2019, Emefiele controlled ₦167 million through a proxy account held with Zenith Bank in Abuja.
It further alleged that between January and December 2020, Emefiele and his alleged accomplice, Ocheme, maintained ₦1.23 billion in account number 1016232915 belonging to Kelvito Integrated Services, domiciled with Zenith Bank.
One of the charges reads: “That you GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE and ERIC OCHEME (AT LARGE) between January and December 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, knowingly had under control the total sum of N2,945,331,050 domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services’ account No: 1016232915 domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, which sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.”
In another count, the EFCC alleged that from January to December 2022, Emefiele and Ocheme knowingly controlled ₦1.98 billion in the same Kelvito Integrated Services account.
The agency also claimed that Emefiele had ₦900 million in account number 1210750237, registered to Ifedigo Integrated Services at Zenith Bank Plc.
According to the EFCC, another ₦600 million was also held by Emefiele in the same Ifedigo Integrated Services account.
“The sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained,” the commission stated.
Just last week, the EFCC handed over the controversial 753-unit housing estate recovered from Emefiele to the Federal Government, following a court order.
Emefiele has since petitioned the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking to overturn the ruling that granted the government full control of the estate.
