Abuja — In a dramatic turn at the ongoing corruption trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, a prosecution witness on Friday detailed how investigators recovered $2,045,000 in cash and several property title documents from Emefiele’s personal lawyer.
Testifying before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, David Oyesina Jaiyeoba, an operative with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), identified the lawyer as Mr. Collins Omeife. According to the witness, the recovery was made at the Zenith Bank Plc headquarters in Lagos.
The Paper Trail: Dollars and Deeds
Jaiyeoba, the 12th prosecution witness (PW12), informed the court that the investigation into the embattled former apex bank chief was sparked by a report from an Inter-Agency Task Force led by the Department of State Services (DSS).
“It was confirmed by the person who kept the over $2.045 million—the defendant’s lawyer—that the cash we found in his possession was the property of the defendant,” Jaiyeoba stated. He added that Omeife admitted to “acquiring and perfecting title documents” under Emefiele’s direct instructions, often using cash in foreign currency provided by Emefiele’s Personal Assistant, Eric Ocheme Odoh.
Contracts for Kin
The EFCC also produced internal CBN memoranda (Exhibits A1 through A8) allegedly showing how Emefiele approved multi-million naira contracts for his family members.
Key projects linked to Architekon Nigeria Limited—a company the EFCC claims is promoted by Emefiele’s wife, Margaret Omoile, and his brother-in-law, MacCombo Omoile—include:
- Residential Landscaping: A contract for the landscaping of the CBN Governor’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.
- Office Furniture: A payment of N97.9 million for the supply of furniture to the CBN.
- Power Infrastructure: Contracts for the provision of dedicated power at the Governor’s official residence.
The witness further pointed to a N4 million debit entry from Emefiele’s personal account at Zenith Bank, which was allegedly paid directly to Architekon Nigeria Limited.
Trial Update
Emefiele is currently facing an amended 20-count charge including:
- Criminal breach of trust
- Forgery and conspiracy to commit forgery
- Procurement fraud
- Obtaining by false pretense
While the defense has previously suggested that the procurement processes followed standard bidding, the prosecution maintains that the former governor used his office to confer corrupt advantages on his associates.
Justice Muazu has adjourned the matter until March 5, 16, and 17, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.
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