David Jaiyeoba, a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Abuja that $2.045 million in cash and several property documents were traced to Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Jaiyeoba, the 12th prosecution witness and an EFCC
operative, while testifying in the ongoing trial, linked the funds and property
acquisitions to approvals, bank transactions and statements obtained during the
commission’s investigation.
Led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, EFCC director of public
prosecutions, the witness identified several internal memoranda of the CBN
approving payments for renovation, landscaping, power supply and furnishing of
the ex-apex bank governor’s official residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The witness told the court that several documents were
presented as exhibits, including an internal CBN memorandum authorising
payments to Architeco Nigeria Limited for renovation works in Emefiele’s
residence.
Also tendered was a contract agreement detailing landscaping
services carried out by the same firm at the Ikoyi property.
He further pointed to another internal CBN memo seeking
approval for the payment of N97,998,416.38 to Architeco Nigeria Limited for the
supply of office furniture, noting that the request was approved by Emefiele.
In addition, the witness described exhibit A8 as an internal
memorandum connected to a contract for the installation of dedicated power
lines at the Ikoyi residence. He said the document was backed by an interim
payment certificate and carried the defendant’s approval.
Jaiyeoba also told the court that, as part of the
investigation, the EFCC wrote to Zenith Bank to track the defendant’s bank
account.
He identified Exhibits ED1, ED2 and ED3 as responses
received from Zenith Bank in relation to Emefiele’s account.
According to the witness, a debit transaction dated January
13, 2015, on account number 2020000064 reflected a payment of N4 million to
Architeco Nigeria Limited.
The court was further informed that the investigation led to
the recovery of $2.045 million, as well as several properties and title
documents, from the headquarters of Zenith Bank Plc in Lagos.
“My Lord, the funds, amounting to $2,045,000, alongside
several properties and title documents were recovered from Zenith Bank Plc
headquarters in Lagos, in the possession of one Mr Collins Omeke, a lawyer to
the defendant,” he said.
He added that Omeke told investigators he had been
purchasing properties and processing title documents on the instructions of the
defendant.
“When questioned as to how he funded these acquisitions, My
Lord, he confirmed that the defendant was in the habit of giving him cash sums
in foreign currency, precisely United States dollars, for the acquisition of
those properties,” the witness stated.
The witness further told the court that Omeke said the cash
recovered from him had been delivered by one Eric Ocheme Udoh on behalf of the
defendant, adding that a portion of the money was used to renovate some of
Emefiele’s property.
At the end of the session, the prosecution asked the court
to adjourn proceedings to March 3, 5, 16 and 17, 2026, for the continuation of
the trial.
Matthew Burkaaa, defence counsel, did not oppose the
application but said there was repetition of evidence, noting that an earlier
witness, PW7, had already identified approvals relating to the transactions.
He warned that the defence would object if the trend
continued in subsequent sittings.
Responding, the prosecution argued that the consistency of
its case warranted the approach and urged the court to allow it present its
case as it deemed fit.
In his remarks, Hamza Muazu, the trial judge, expressed
concern that the prosecution appeared “too careful” and often required
prompting by the court, but said he would accommodate it.
He consequently adjourned the matter to March 5, 16 and 17,
2026, for continuation of trial.
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