A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), David Jaiyeoba, has told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Abuja that $2.045 million in cash and several property documents were traced to a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
Jaiyeoba, the 12th prosecution witness and an EFCC operative, while testifying in the ongoing trial, linked the funds and property acquisitions to approvals, bank transactions and statements obtained during the commission’s investigation.
Led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, EFCC director of public prosecutions, the witness identified several internal memoranda of the CBN approving payments for renovation, landscaping, power supply and furnishing of the ex-apex bank governor’s official residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The witness told the court that several documents were presented as exhibits, including an internal CBN memorandum authorising payments to Architeco Nigeria Limited for renovation works in Emefiele’s residence.
Also tendered was a contract agreement detailing landscaping services carried out by the same firm at the Ikoyi property.
He further pointed to another internal CBN memo seeking approval for the payment of N97,998,416.38 to Architeco Nigeria Limited for the supply of office furniture, noting that the request was approved by Emefiele.
The witness also described exhibit A8 as an internal memorandum connected to a contract for the installation of dedicated power lines at the Ikoyi residence. He said the document was backed by an interim payment certificate and carried the defendant’s approval.
Jaiyeoba also told the court that, as part of the investigation, the EFCC wrote to Zenith Bank to track the defendant’s bank account.
He identified Exhibits ED1, ED2 and ED3 as responses received from Zenith Bank in relation to Emefiele’s account.
According to the witness, a debit transaction dated January 13, 2015, on account number 2020000064 reflected a payment of N4 million to Architeco Nigeria Limited.
The court was further informed that the investigation led to the recovery of $2.045 million, as well as several properties and title documents, from the headquarters of Zenith Bank Plc in Lagos.
“My Lord, the funds, amounting to $2,045,000, alongside several properties and title documents were recovered from Zenith Bank Plc headquarters in Lagos, in the possession of one Mr Collins Omeke, a lawyer to the defendant,” he said.
He added that Omeke told investigators he had been purchasing properties and processing title documents on the instructions of the defendant.
“When questioned as to how he funded these acquisitions, My Lord, he confirmed that the defendant was in the habit of giving him cash sums in foreign currency, precisely United States dollars, for the acquisition of those properties,” the witness stated.
The witness further told the court that Omeke said the cash recovered from him had been delivered by one Eric Ocheme Udoh on behalf of the defendant, adding that a portion of the money was used to renovate some of Emefiele’s property.
At the end of the session, the prosecution asked the court to adjourn proceedings to March 3, 5, 16 and 17, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.
Matthew Burkaaa, defence counsel, did not oppose the application but said there was repetition of evidence, noting that an earlier witness, PW7, had already identified approvals relating to the transactions.
He warned that the defence would object if the trend continued in subsequent sittings.
Responding, the prosecution argued that the consistency of its case warranted the approach and urged the court to allow it present its case as it deemed fit.
In his remarks, Hamza Muazu, the trial judge, expressed concern that the prosecution appeared “too careful” and often required prompting by the court, but said he would accommodate it.
He consequently adjourned the matter to March 5, 16 and 17, 2026, for continuation of trial.
News4 years ago
Privacy5 years ago
News5 years ago
News5 years ago
Opinion5 years ago
News5 years ago
Sports4 years ago