A prosecution witness in the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that investigators traced a total of $2.045 million in cash and several property title documents back to the ex-CBN chief after they were found in the possession of his lawyer.
Gatekeepers News reports that the witness, David Jaiyeoba, an operative with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said the evidence was uncovered through bank records, internal memos and transactions linked to Emefiele’s accounts and activities while he was Governor.
Jaiyeoba, who is the 12th prosecution witness, explained that the EFCC’s probe began after a report from a joint task force, including the Department of State Services, flagged allegations of financial misconduct.
The commission wrote to Zenith Bank to trace the former governor’s account activity, and bank responses identified a debit entry of N4 million that had been paid to a firm involved in renovation and furnishing contracts for Emefiele’s official residence in Ikoyi, Lagos. Internal CBN memoranda authorising payments for those contracts were tendered in court as part of the evidence.
Jaiyeoba said the cash and title documents were recovered from the headquarters of Zenith Bank Plc in Lagos, where they were found with Mr Collins Omeke, a lawyer working for Emefiele.
In court, he stated, “My Lord, the funds amounting to $2,045,000.00 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.”
Omeke reportedly told investigators that the defendant regularly gave him cash in United States dollars to buy and process properties on his behalf, and that part of the money had been used for renovations of Emefiele’s assets.
The witness also said that Mr Omeke told investigators the funds had been delivered to him by one Eric Ocheme Udoh acting for the defendant. After the testimony, the prosecution asked the court to adjourn the trial to March 5, 16, and 17, 2026, for continuation of proceedings.
The defence counsel did not oppose the adjournment but expressed concern over the repetition of evidence, saying earlier witnesses had already identified similar approvals. The trial judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, allowed the adjournment while noting that the prosecution seemed cautious in presenting its case.
Emefiele is standing trial on an amended 20-count charge that includes criminal breach of trust, forgery, and procurement fraud, with allegations that he illegally approved contracts and diverted funds during his tenure at the apex bank.
