Alvan Gurumnaan, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has alleged that Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), acquired multi-billion-naira properties through proxies while in office.
Gurumnaan appeared before the Ikeja Special Offences Court on Thursday to continue his testimony in Emefiele’s ongoing trial.
Emefiele is facing a 19-count charge filed by the EFCC,
bordering on the alleged receipt of gratification and corrupt demands during
his tenure as CBN governor.
His co-defendant, Omoile, is facing a separate a three-count
charge over the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts as an agent. Both
defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, director of public
prosecutions (DPP) in the federal ministry of justice, Gurumnaan told the court
that investigations revealed that Emefiele, while in office created a system
that prevented ordinary Nigerians and businesses that needed foreign currencies
from accessing them.
The EFCC investigator alleged that Emefiele established a
special arrangement that allowed some individuals and companies to access
foreign currencies.
“One of those examples was how a company had to pay millions
of dollars to the first defendant through his staff, Monday Osazuwa,” he told
the court.
“Osazuwa admitted to us in the course of investigation that
he received about $17 million from the company and gave it to the second
defendant. The second defendant was the one who later took the money to the
first defendant.
“Furthermore, in the course of investigation, we found out
that the first defendant used his office to receive the funds.”
Gurumnaan alleged that Emefiele used his associates to
acquire numerous properties valued beyond what his legitimate income as the CBN
governor could support.
The witness said forfeiture orders had been issued against
some of the assets and properties worth N100 billion linked to the former CBN
governor.
“He accepted and came to court that the properties belong to
him. The first defendant used associates who also admitted to receiving money
on his behalf,” the EFCC witness said.
“One of them is a lawyer called Ifeanyi Omeke, whose
investigation led to his office and a sum of over $2 million cash was
recovered.
“This same Omeke serves as a secretary to several companies
and he admitted to being a front for the first defendant.
“We recovered a set of twin duplexes in Lekki Phase 1 and
also two mansions in Queens Drive Ikoyi, Lagos.”
OBJECTION TO WITNESS’ TESTIMONY
Opposing the witness’ testimony, Ojo Olalekan, counsel to
Emefiele, and Kazeem Gbadamosi, counsel to Omoile, argued that Gurumnaan’s
evidence was not relevant to the charges before the court.
In a brief ruling, Rahman Oshodi, the presiding judge,
overruled the objection, saying the counsel would have the opportunity to
cross-examine the witness.
Continuing his testimony, Gurumnaan said Emefiele did not
respond to allegations against him during interrogation.
“Although he did not address the allegation, our
investigation found that the first defendant purchased many other properties
through proxies, and I have mentioned some of them.
“We also discovered that the first defendant was building a
factory in his hometown in Agbor, Delta sate, which has also been forfeited to
the federal government.
“There is also a property, my Lord, on Adekunle Lawal Street
in Ikoyi, Lagos, which the first defendant purchased. It had belonged to the
Nigerian Printing and Minting Company, where he served as chairman of the
board, and he sold the property to himself.
“The property, a block of eight flats in Ikoyi, has also
been forfeited to the government and during our investigation, another
warehouse belonging to the first defendant was recovered in Ogun state, on the
outskirts of Lagos.”
The judge adjourned the case until November 13 for
continuation of trial.
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