The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed new charges against former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, accusing him of stealing and illegally acquiring 753 housing units located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja.
In the eight-count charge submitted at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the EFCC also alleged that Emefiele held billions of naira in proxy accounts while serving as CBN governor. According to the commission, he conspired with Eric Ocheme—who is currently at large—to acquire the estate in August 2021.
The charges state that between January and December 2019, Emefiele maintained ₦167 million in a proxy Zenith Bank account in Abuja, a sum suspected to be illicitly obtained. In 2020, the EFCC claims he and Ocheme controlled ₦1.23 billion through Kelvito Integrated Services’ Zenith Bank account, also believed to be proceeds of crime.
One of the charges reveals that the pair allegedly held ₦2.95 billion in the same Kelvito account throughout 2021, while another count alleges they maintained ₦1.98 billion in the same account in 2022—all funds reasonably suspected to be unlawfully acquired.
The Commission further alleges that Emefiele kept ₦900 million in an account belonging to Ifedigo Integrated Services at Zenith Bank, and in a separate instance, ₦600 million in the same company’s account, both sums deemed suspicious.
Last week, the EFCC obtained a court order granting the federal government ownership of the contested estate. However, Emefiele has filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking to overturn the judgment and regain control of the 753 housing units.
