ABUJA, FCT – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has escalated its legal battle against the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, by filing fresh charges related to the alleged unlawful acquisition of a massive housing estate in Abuja and control of billions of naira in proxy accounts. The new eight-count charge, marked CR/350/25 and dated Friday, May 30, 2025, was filed before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
The EFCC alleges that Emefiele, in collusion with one Eric Ocheme (currently at large), unlawfully acquired an estate comprising 753 housing units located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, FCT, Abuja. The sprawling property spans 150,462.86 square meters. This development comes as the Federal Government recently took possession of the forfeited estate, with plans to sell it to low- and middle-income Nigerians.
Emefiele, through his lawyer, A.M. Kotoye (SAN), had previously challenged the forfeiture order, but his motion was dismissed by the FCT High Court, a decision he is now appealing at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. He has also filed a notice of injunction urging the government to halt any action on the property until his appeal is heard.
The fresh charges detail a series of alleged financial improprieties and a forgery accusation. Notably, the EFCC claims Emefiele knowingly controlled property reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully acquired, in violation of Section 319(A) of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990.
Key Allegations in the Eight-Count Charge:
1.Count One: Accuses Emefiele and Eric Ocheme of knowingly controlling the 753-unit property at Plot 109, Lokogoma District, Abuja, in August 2021, a property reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully acquired.
2.Counts Two to Five: Detail control of substantial sums of money domiciled in a Zenith Bank account belonging to “Kelvito Integrated Services,” which the EFCC alleges were unlawfully obtained:.Count Two: N167,300,000 between January and December 2019.
3.Count Three: N1,235,959,000 between January and December 2020.
4.Count Four: N2,945,331,050 between January and December 2021.
5.Count Five: N1,985,412,246 between January and December 2022.The total of these sums amounts to approximately N7.8 billion.
6.Counts Six and Seven: Allege control of additional sums in a Zenith Bank account linked to “Ifedigo Integrated Services,” also suspected to be unlawfully obtained:
6.Count Six: N900,000,000.
7 Count Seven: N600,000,000 in August 2021.
8.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,” with the intent to deceive.
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The EFCC has listed 24 witnesses to testify during the trial, including representatives from major financial institutions like Zenith Bank and Access Bank, indicating a detailed investigation into the alleged financial transactions.
Emefiele, who served as CBN governor from 2014 until his arrest and subsequent resignation in June 2023, continues to face multiple criminal charges in both Abuja and Lagos High Courts. This fresh wave of charges adds another layer to the mounting legal challenges confronting the former apex bank chief.
