An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Alvan Gurumnaan, has told a Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja that former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, allegedly used associates, including a lawyer, to acquire multi-billion-naira properties through proxies while in office.
Gurumnaan, the seventh prosecution witness, said the properties allegedly linked to Emefiele were located in Lagos, Delta, Ogun and Abuja, with some already forfeited to the Federal Government following court orders.
Testifying before Justice Rahman Oshodi on Thursday, the investigator also disclosed that the EFCC recovered more than $2 million in cash from the office of a lawyer, Ifeanyi Omeke, who allegedly admitted acting as a front for Emefiele and receiving money on his behalf.
The testimony came during the trial of Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, over allegations of gratification, corrupt demands and abuse of office involving transactions valued at $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion.
Emefiele is facing a 19-count charge, while Omoile is standing trial on a separate three-count charge bordering on alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts.
Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Gurumnaan said investigations revealed that Emefiele allegedly exploited his position as CBN governor to create difficulties for businesses seeking access to foreign exchange, forcing some operators into special arrangements to obtain the funds.
He cited the alleged involvement of Emefiele’s staff, Monday Osazuwa, and Omoile in the collection and transfer of money from a company to the former CBN governor.
“One of those examples was how a company had to pay millions of dollars to the first defendant through his staff, Monday Osazuwa.
“Osazuwa admitted to us in the course of the investigation that he received about $17 million from the company and gave it to the second defendant sometime. The second defendant was the one who later took the money to the first defendant,” the witness said.
Gurumnaan also cited the case of Source Computer, alleging that the company’s managing director was compelled to pay money to Emefiele before its contract fees could be released.
The investigator subsequently listed several properties allegedly acquired by Emefiele through associates, arguing that their value was beyond what he could legitimately have earned as CBN governor.
Among them were twin duplexes in Lekki Phase 1 and two mansions on Queen’s Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos.
He also identified a factory under construction in Agbor, Delta State, Emefiele’s hometown, which he said had been forfeited to the Federal Government.
Another property was a block of eight flats on Adekunle Lawal Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, which the witness alleged previously belonged to the Nigerian Printing and Minting Company, where Emefiele served as board chairman.
Gurumnaan further told the court that investigators recovered a warehouse in Ogun State, on the outskirts of Lagos, allegedly belonging to the former CBN governor. He said the warehouse contained several containers estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of naira.
Other properties listed included an 11-storey building under construction in Ikoyi, comprising approximately 94 luxury flats; an industrial park under construction in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos; and an estate of about 750 housing units in Lokogoma District of Abuja.
The witness said the EFCC had obtained several court judgments resulting in the forfeiture of assets allegedly linked to Emefiele and valued at hundreds of billions of naira.
Defence Objects To Testimony
However, the defence teams challenged the admissibility of the testimony, arguing that the prosecution was introducing allegations and facts that were not contained in the proof of evidence served on the defendants.
Emefiele’s lead counsel, Ojo Olalekan (SAN), argued that the prosecution could not introduce additional facts through its witness without first filing and serving supplementary proof of evidence.
Relying on Section 251 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2015, he maintained that the prosecution was required to comply with the statutory provisions governing the contents of an information.
Counsel to Omoile, Kazeem Gbadamosi, aligned himself with the objection, arguing that the investigating officer’s testimony should be restricted to findings relevant to the charges before the court.
In response, Oyedepo maintained that the evidence was relevant to the prosecution’s allegation that Emefiele used proceeds of gratification to acquire properties beyond his legitimate sources of income.
He argued that the defendants would not suffer any prejudice, as they retained the opportunity to challenge the evidence during cross-examination.
In his ruling, Justice Oshodi overruled the objection, relying on the Supreme Court decision in Ugwuma v. The State (2018), which recognised the right of an investigating officer to testify about what he personally saw, witnessed or discovered during an investigation.
The judge consequently allowed Gurumnaan to continue his testimony while preserving the defence’s right to cross-examine him.
In further proceedings, the witness sought to tender a certified true copy of a Supreme Court judgment relating to some of the properties mentioned in his testimony.
The defence again objected, arguing that the document had not been sufficiently disclosed ahead of the proceedings to enable them to prepare their response.
Justice Oshodi deferred consideration of the document and the objection until the next sitting.
The court adjourned the case until November 13, 2026, for continuation of trial.
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