Emefiele Trial: EFCC Witness Links $2.045m Cash, Property Titles Found With Lawyer Directly To Ex-CBN Governor

The trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, took a dramatic turn on Friday, January 30, 2026, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, that $2.045 million in cash and several property title documents recovered from Emefiele’s lawyer were confirmed to belong to him.

Testifying as the 12th prosecution witness, David Oyesina Jaiyeoba (PW12), an EFCC investigation officer, told the court presided over by Justice Hamza Muazu that the cash and documents were recovered from Zenith Bank Plc headquarters in Lagos in the possession of Mr. Collins Omeife, lawyer to the former CBN governor.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel and Director of Public Prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the witness said the investigation was triggered by a report from the Inter-Agency Task Force led by the Department of State Services (DSS).

According to PW12, investigations revealed that the $2.045 million originated from Eric Ocheme Odoh, Emefiele’s former Personal Assistant, who regularly delivered large sums of cash—often in U.S. dollars—to the lawyer on Emefiele’s instructions.
“It was confirmed by the lawyer, who had custody of the over $2.045 million, that the money belonged to the defendant. Property title documents were also recovered, and he confirmed that the properties belonged to the defendant,” the witness told the court.
PW12 further stated that Omeife disclosed during interrogation that Emefiele routinely gave him cash for the acquisition, perfection of title documents, and renovation of properties, with funds frequently delivered by Odoh.

The witness added that Emefiele himself later confirmed ownership of the assets when invited to show cause why they should not be forfeited to the Federal Government. Many of the recovered assets and cash, he said, have already been forfeited.

In further revelations, PW12 told the court that Emefiele approved several contract payments to Architekon Nigeria Limited, a company promoted by MacCombo Omoile, his brother-in-law, and Margaret Omoile, his wife.
He identified multiple exhibits, including:
Exhibit A1: Internal CBN memo approving payment for the CBN Governor’s residential house in Ikoyi, Lagos
Exhibit A2: Contract for landscaping of the governor’s residence
Exhibit A5: Approval of N97.9 million for supply of office furniture to the CBN
Exhibit A8: Contract for provision of dedicated power supply to the governor’s residence
PW12 also tendered correspondence between the EFCC and Zenith Bank Plc, noting that Exhibit ED3 showed a N4 million debit from Emefiele’s account to Architekon Nigeria Limited.
Justice Muazu adjourned the case to March 5, 16 and 17, 2026, for continuation of trial.

Emefiele is standing trial on an amended 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, obtaining by false pretence, procurement fraud, conspiracy to commit forgery, and conspiracy to commit felony, brought by the EFCC.