*Economic and Financial Crimes Commission again, sues Godwin Emefiele, a former Governor of the Central Bank Governor, for purportedly stealing and unlawfully acquiring the forfeited 753-unit housing estate located in Abuja with ‘unlawfully obtained’ funds through Zenith Bank Plc

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sued Mr. Godwin Emefiele, a former Central Bank Governor, for purportedly stealing and unlawfully acquiring 753-unit housing estate located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokongoma District of Abuja, FCT.

绿帽献妻 reports the EFCC, in the fresh 8-count charge, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, accused Mr. Emefiele of holding possession of billions of Naira in proxy accounts with Zenith Bank Plc while serving as the Governor of CBN.

Mr. Godwin Emefiele, ex-CBN Governor, and sections of the forfeited 753-unit housing estate, in Abuja

The anti-graft regulatory Commission recently obtained a court order to seize and for forfeiture of the entire housing estate to the Federal Government.

The EFCC also stated that Emefiele, who is also a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zenith Bank Plc, allegedly conspired with certain Eric Ocheme, who is currently on the run, to acquire the said properties August 2021.

It further alleged that between January and December 2019, the erstwhile CBN Chief had N167 million in a proxy account with Zenith Bank, in Abuja.

Prosecutors said the sum Emefiele lodged in the commercial bank was reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.

The EFCC as well purported that between January and December 2020, Emefiele and his co-conspirator, Ocheme, held N1.23 billion domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services鈥� Account No. 1016232915 domiciled with Zenith Bank.

The Commission claimed the fund was reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.

The EFCC noted in one of the charges: 鈥淭hat you GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE and ERIC OCHEME (at large) between January and December 2021, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly had under control the total sum of N2, 945,331,050 (Two Billion, Nine Hundred and Forty Five Million, Three Hundred and Thirty One Thousand Fifty Naira.) domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services鈥� account No: 1016232915 domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, which sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.鈥�

In count five of the charges, EFCC said between January and December 2022, Mr. Emefiele and his co-conspirator knowingly, had under control the total sum of N1.98 billion domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services鈥� Account No: 1016232915 domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, which sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.

It stated the former CBN Governor allegedly had N900 million in Ifedigo Integrated Services鈥� Account No. 1210750237, domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, which sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.

Besides, the EFCC purported that Mr. Emefiele kept N600 million in an Account No. 1210750237, domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, at Ifedigo Integrated Services.

The Commission said: 鈥淭he sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.”

It is equally stressed the court, last week, ordered Emefiele’s forfeiture of the entire estate and handed it over to the Federal Government last week.

Emefiele, however, has approached the Court of Appeal, in Abuja, to reclaim the sprawling properties.

He is praying the court to set aside the judgment granting the Nigerian Government full control of the estate, comprising 753 housing units in the FCT.

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