EFCC INVESTIGATOR TELLS COURT EMEFIELE ACQUIRED BILLIONS OF NAIRA IN PROPERTIES THROUGH PROXIES

By Aishat Momoh. O.

An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Alvan Gurumnaan, on Thursday told an Ikeja Special Offences Court that former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, allegedly acquired multi-billion-naira properties through proxies while in office.

Gurumnaan made the disclosure while testifying in the ongoing trial of Emefiele, who is facing a 19-count charge bordering on alleged gratification, corrupt demands and abuse of office involving transactions valued at $4.5bn and N2.8bn.

His co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is facing a separate three-count charge of alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts.

Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the witness said Emefiele’s statement was recorded during an investigation conducted by the special operations team he headed.

He alleged that investigations revealed that Emefiele abused his position as CBN governor by creating a system that prevented ordinary Nigerians and business owners from accessing foreign exchange needed for their legitimate businesses.

According to him, the difficulties forced business owners to resort to special arrangements allegedly imposed by Emefiele before they could access foreign exchange.

Citing an instance, Gurumnaan told the court that a company allegedly paid millions of dollars to Emefiele through his staff member, Monday Osazuwa.

“Osazuwa admitted to us in the course of investigation that he received about $17m 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 said.

The investigator also mentioned a company identified as Source Computer, alleging that its managing director was compelled to pay money to Emefiele before receiving contract fees.

Gurumnaan further told the court that investigations uncovered several properties allegedly acquired by the former CBN governor through associates and other proxies, which he said were beyond his legitimate earnings.

He claimed that various courts had ordered the forfeiture of assets and properties worth about hundreds of billions of naira linked to Emefiele.

The witness identified a lawyer, Ifeanyi Omeke, as one of the alleged fronts used by the former CBN governor to acquire properties.

According to him, investigators recovered more than $2m in cash from Omeke’s office, while the lawyer allegedly admitted acting on Emefiele’s behalf.

Gurumnaan listed some of the recovered properties as a set of twin duplexes in Lekki Phase 1 and two mansions on Queens Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos.

He also alleged that Emefiele used his position as chairman of the board of the Nigerian Printing and Minting Company to acquire a property belonging to the organisation on Adekunle Lawal Street, Ikoyi, which he subsequently sold to himself.

The property, described as a block of eight flats, was also said to have been forfeited to the Federal Government.

The investigator further disclosed that a factory under construction in Emefiele’s hometown of Agbor, Delta State, had been forfeited to the government.

He added that another warehouse allegedly belonging to the former CBN governor was recovered in Ogun State, on the outskirts of Lagos.

According to Gurumnaan, the warehouse contained several containers with contents estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of naira.

He also told the court that investigators discovered an 11-storey building under construction, comprising about 94 luxury flats, as well as an estate of approximately 750 houses in the Lokogoma area of Abuja, allegedly linked to Emefiele.

However, the testimony was challenged by the defence.

Emefiele’s lead counsel, Ojo Olalekan (SAN), and Omoile’s counsel, Kazeem Gbadamosi, objected to the evidence, arguing that the allegations concerning the properties were irrelevant to the charges before the court.

In a brief ruling, Justice Rahman Oshodi overruled the objection, holding that the defendants would have the opportunity to challenge the witness during cross-examination.

Continuing his testimony, Gurumnaan said Emefiele was given an opportunity to respond to some of the findings during the investigation and the recording of his statement but allegedly failed to address the allegations.

The court subsequently adjourned the case until November 13 for continuation of trial.