Emefiele with EFCC officials in court
By Abdullahi Abubakar
An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigator, Alvan Gurumnaan, has disclosed to the High Court sitting in the Ikeja area of Lagos State that an aide received $17.1 million on behalf of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele over a three-year period.
Emefiele is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on receiving gratification and corrupt demands.
Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is facing a three-count charge bordering on unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents.
The two defendants are charged with fraud totalling $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.
Gurumnaan, an Assistant Commandant with the EFCC, said he was assigned to head a special operations unit tasked with investigating both defendants.
The EFCC investigator, who was led in evidence by the EFCC lead counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, told the court that the anti-graft agency had earlier received several intelligence reports against Emefiele, even while he was in office.
He said the reports bordered on allegations of abuse of office, demanding and receiving gratification, procurement fraud, and living above his means.
The witness told the court that one of the former CBN governor’s close aides, Monday Osazuwa, received $17.1 million from a businessman in Victoria Island, Lagos State, between September 2020 and June 2023.
“Osazuwa collected these sums in various tranches and delivered them to Emefiele at his Ikoyi residence,” he said.
Gurumnaan added that part of the money was handed to Omoile on Emefiele’s instruction.
The EFCC official stated: “The special operations team launched a far-reaching investigation, issuing multiple requests for documents and inviting key staff from several CBN departments.
“One name that surfaced repeatedly during the investigation was that of Eric Odoh, Emefiele’s former personal assistant.
“All efforts to bring Odoh in for questioning were unsuccessful as he had absconded and was traced to the United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries.”
The EFCC investigator said the anti-graft agency also wrote to agencies such as the Code of Conduct Bureau and Corporate Affairs Commission, seeking more information.
He said it was during the investigation that some staff members who worked directly under Emefiele were questioned.
The witness said there were instances where Emefiele’s aide said he handed the money directly to Emefiele.
Gurumnaan stated: “The aide said Emefiele always confirms the receipt of the sums of money with the businessman in question over the phone after each transaction.
“The contact person was also invited for questioning, and he confirmed giving Emefiele’s aide a total sum of $17.1 million.
“The team also examined the phone of the businessman, and some WhatsApp chats were revealed and printed at the EFCC Lagos office for use during the trial.”
When the prosecution sought to tender the printed documents as exhibits, Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), did not object.
However, counsel to Emefiele’s co-defendant, Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN), urged the court to allow him to tender his objections during the final written address.
The judge agreed and admitted the documents as exhibits.
However, the defence counsel requested leave of court to conduct an independent forensic examination of the exhibits.
The lawyer stated that it would be beneficial for them during cross-examination.
The judge, thereafter, ordered them to file a formal application to that effect, to enable the prosecution to file an appropriate response.
The case was adjourned until October 7, 2025, for the continuation of trial.
