EFCC files eight new charges against Emefiele

By : Jimisayo Opanuga

CBN-Emefiele

Suspended CBN governor Godwin Emefiele (Photo by Olukayode Jaiyeola/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele is facing new charges from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) related to the alleged unlawful possession of billions of naira in several proxy accounts and the illegal purchase of 753 housing units in Abuja.

EFCC claims that in August 2021, Emefiele and a fugitive associate, Eric Ocheme, conspired to fraudulently purchase the estate at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, in an eight-count charge submitted to the Federal Capital Territory’s High Court in Abuja.

The anti-corruption agency also alleged that Emefiele laundered billions of naira through corporate accounts held in the names of Kelvito Integrated Services and Ifedigo Integrated Services.

According to EFCC, the funds are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity during his tenure at the apex bank.

EFCC alleged that between January and December 2019, Emefiele had ₦167 million in a proxy account with Zenith Bank in Abuja.

EFCC also alleged that between January and December 2020, Emefiele and his co-conspirator, Ocheme, held ₦1.23 billion domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services’ account No. 1016232915 domiciled with Zenith Bank.

One of the charges reads: “That you GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE and ERIC OCHEME (AT LARGE) between January and December 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, knowingly had under control the total sum of N2, 945,331,050 domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services’ account No: 1016232915 domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, which sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.”

In a separate count, EFCC alleged that between January and December 2022, Emefiele and his conspirator knowingly had under control the total sum of ₦1.98 billion domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services’ account No: 1016232915 domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, which sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.

It claimed that the former CBN Governor possessed ₦900 million in Ifedigo Integrated Services’ account number 1210750237, which was registered with Zenith Bank Plc.

According to the EFCC, Emefiele held ₦600 million in an account at Ifedigo Integrated Services at Zenith Bank Plc with number 1210750237.

“The sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained,” the commission said.

Last week, the EFCC handed over the housing estate recovered from Emefiele to the Federal Government after obtaining a court order.

Emefiele, however, petitioned the Court of Appeal in Abuja to overturn the ruling giving the government complete authority over the 753-unit Abuja estate.

GUARDIAN Newspapers.