Rephrased Report:
An Assistant Commandant with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Gurumnaan, testified before an Ikeja High Court that an aide to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, allegedly received a total of $17.1 million on his behalf over a span of three years.
Godwin Emefiele is currently facing a 19-count charge that includes allegations of receiving gratification and making corrupt demands. His co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is being tried on a separate three-count charge related to the unlawful acceptance of gifts in his capacity as an agent. Together, the two men are alleged to have committed fraud involving $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.
Testifying under the guidance of EFCC lead counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Mr. Gurumnaan disclosed that he was the head of a special operations team tasked with investigating Emefiele and Omoile. According to him, the EFCC had received multiple intelligence reports implicating Emefiele in various acts of misconduct while he was still in office. The allegations included abuse of office, procurement fraud, receiving gratification, and living a lifestyle beyond his legitimate means.
During the investigation, Mr. Gurumnaan stated that one of Emefiele’s close aides, Mr. Monday Osazuwa, received the sum of $17.1 million from a businessman at a location in Victoria Island, Lagos, between September 2020 and June 2023. He explained that Osazuwa delivered the funds in multiple tranches directly to Emefiele’s residence in Ikoyi. On some occasions, part of the funds was also handed to Henry Omoile under Emefiele’s instruction.
Another individual named during the investigation was Mr. Eric Odoh, a former personal assistant to Emefiele. Gurumnaan said that despite repeated efforts to question Odoh, he could not be found and was eventually traced to locations abroad, including the United Kingdom and Canada.
In the course of their investigation, the EFCC reached out to relevant institutions such as the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Corporate Affairs Commission to gather additional information. They also interviewed several staff members who worked closely with Emefiele, either at the CBN headquarters or its Lagos annex.
According to the testimony, Emefiele’s aide confirmed delivering the money personally to the former CBN governor. It was also revealed that Emefiele would call the businessman after each transaction to confirm receipt of the funds.
The businessman involved in the alleged transactions was invited for questioning and reportedly admitted to giving a total of $17.1 million to Emefiele’s aide. The EFCC reviewed and printed WhatsApp messages from the businessman’s phone as part of their evidence for the trial.
When the prosecution sought to tender these documents as exhibits, counsel to Emefiele, Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN), raised no objection. However, the co-defendant’s lawyer, Mr. Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN), requested permission to raise his objections during the final written address. The court allowed the documents to be admitted as evidence, but also granted the defence leave to file a formal application for an independent forensic examination of the exhibits, which they believe will aid their cross-examination.
The case was adjourned to October 7 for continuation of trial.
