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 and proxies, including a lawyer, to acquire multi-billion-naira properties across the country while in office.
Gurumnaan, the seventh prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, disclosed that the properties 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 revealed 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.
Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Gurumnaan alleged that Emefiele exploited his position as CBN governor to create difficulties for businesses seeking access to foreign exchange, forcing some operators to enter special arrangements to secure the funds.
He cited an instance involving a company that allegedly paid millions of dollars to the former CBN governor through his staff, Monday Osazuwa, and Omoile.
According to the witness, Osazuwa admitted during investigations that he received about $17 million from the company and subsequently handed the money to Omoile, who allegedly transferred it to Emefiele.
"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," he told the court.
The investigator also cited the case of Source Computer, alleging that the company's managing director was compelled to make payments to Emefiele before its contract fees could be released.
Gurumnaan subsequently identified several properties allegedly acquired through associates, arguing that their combined value was beyond what the former CBN governor could legitimately have earned from his public service career.
Among the properties listed were twin duplexes in Lekki Phase 1 and two mansions on Queen's Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos.
He also mentioned a factory under construction in Agbor, Delta State, Emefiele's hometown, which he said had been forfeited to the Federal Government.
Another property identified by the witness was a block of eight flats on Adekunle Lawal Street, Ikoyi, which he alleged previously belonged to the Nigerian Printing and Minting Company, where Emefiele served as board chairman.
The EFCC investigator further told the court that the commission recovered a warehouse in Ogun State, on the outskirts of Lagos, allegedly belonging to the former CBN governor. He said the facility 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 about 94 luxury flats; an industrial park under construction in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos; and an estate of approximately 750 housing units in Lokogoma District of Abuja.
Gurumnaan said the EFCC had obtained several court judgments leading to the forfeiture of assets allegedly linked to Emefiele and valued at hundreds of billions of naira.
**Defence challenges testimony**
However, the defence teams objected to the investigator's testimony, arguing that the prosecution was introducing allegations and facts 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.
Citing 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, insisting that the investigator's testimony should be restricted to findings relevant to the charges before the court.
Responding, Oyedepo argued 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 maintained that the defendants would not suffer any prejudice, as they had 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 matters personally seen, 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 a further development, 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.
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.
The case, involving allegations of gratification, corrupt demands and abuse of office in transactions valued at $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion, was adjourned until November 13, 2026, for continuation of trial.
EFCC Alleges Emefiele Used Proxies to Acquire Billion-Naira Properties
