A prosecution witness on Friday told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, that $2.045 million in cash and several property title documents recovered from a lawyer belonged to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The 12th Prosecution Witness (PW12), Mr David Oyesina Jaiyeoba, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), gave the testimony on January 30, 2026, before Justice Hamza Muazu during Emefiele’s ongoing trial.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel and Director of Public Prosecution, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the witness said investigations into Emefiele were triggered by a report from an Inter-Agency Task Force headed by the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to Jaiyeoba, several individuals, companies and government agencies were invited and interviewed during the investigation, leading to the recovery of substantial assets and cash, some of which have since been forfeited to the Federal Government.
He told the court that the $2.045 million was traced to one Eric Ocheme Odoh, identified as Emefiele’s personal assistant during his tenure as CBN governor. The funds, he said, were recovered from Mr Collins Omeife, Emefiele’s lawyer, who confirmed under interrogation that both the cash and the property documents found in his possession belonged to the defendant.
“My lord, funds amounting to $2,045,000 alongside several property title documents were recovered from Zenith Bank Plc headquarters in Lagos in the possession of Mr Collins Omeife, lawyer to the defendant,” the witness said. He added that investigations revealed that Omeife acquired and perfected property titles on Emefiele’s instructions.
Jaiyeoba further testified that Omeife disclosed that Emefiele regularly gave him cash, including foreign currency, mainly United States dollars, for property acquisitions. The funds, he said, were usually delivered through Emefiele’s personal assistant and were also used to renovate some of the former CBN governor’s existing properties.
The witness added that Emefiele later confirmed ownership of the recovered assets when he was invited to show cause why they should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.
PW12 also told the court that Emefiele approved payments to several companies, including Architekon Nigeria Limited, allegedly promoted by his brother-in-law, MacCombo Omoile, and his wife, Margaret Omoile. He identified several internal CBN memoranda and contract documents tendered as exhibits, including approvals for payments related to the CBN governor’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, landscaping works, office furniture supply valued at over ₦97.9 million, and the provision of dedicated power at the residence.
The witness further testified that correspondence between the EFCC and Zenith Bank Plc on Emefiele’s accounts revealed multiple transactions, including a ₦4 million debit paid to Architekon Nigeria Limited.
Justice Muazu adjourned the matter to March 5, 16 and 17, 2026, for continuation of trial.
Emefiele is being prosecuted by the EFCC on an amended 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, obtaining by false pretence, procurement fraud, conspiracy and related offences.
