An EFCC investigator has testified before an Ikeja High Court that $17.1 million in bribes was delivered to Godwin Emefiele through his aide over a three-year period.
Mr. Alvan Gurumnaan, an Assistant Commandant with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), told the court on Wednesday that the funds were collected in multiple tranches between September 2020 and June 2023, and passed through intermediaries to Emefiele.
“One of the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor’s close aides, Mr. Monday Osazuwa, received a total of $17.1 million from a businessman at an address in Victoria Island, Lagos,” Gurumnaan stated.
“Osazuwa collected these sums in various tranches and delivered them to Emefiele at his Ikoyi residence.”
He added that, on Emefiele’s instructions, “part of the money was handed to one Henry Omoile,” who is now standing trial alongside the former CBN governor for unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents.
“One such errand involved contacting a businessman based in Victoria Island, Lagos, via a UK-based intermediary known as Mr Mohit. Mohit gave him the contact of an individual.
Between September 2020 and 2 June 2023—just one week before Emefiele’s suspension—this businessman allegedly gave Osazuwa a total of $17.1 million to deliver to Emefiele. The funds were received by Osazuwa and subsequently handed over to the second defendant, Mr Omoile, at Emefiele’s Lagos residence. On some occasions, Omoile handed the cash to Emefiele personally.
Emefiele and Omoile are currently facing a 19-count charge filed by the EFCC, which relates to corrupt demands and gratification amounting to $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion.
The defendants face 19 counts related to gratification and corrupt demands.
Gurumnaan, who heads the EFCC’s Special Operations Unit, said the agency had acted on intelligence indicating abuse of office, procurement fraud, illicit enrichment, and more.
He revealed that the EFCC summoned multiple CBN staff and departments, and during this process, the name of Eric Odoh, Emefiele’s former personal assistant, came up frequently. Odoh has reportedly absconded and was traced to the UK, Canada, and other locations.
To gather evidence, the EFCC wrote to the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Corporate Affairs Commission. Gurumnaan also noted that some aides directly admitted to handing cash to Emefiele.
“The aide said Emefiele always confirms the receipt of the sums of money with the businessman in question over the phone after each transaction,” he testified. “The contact person was also invited for questioning and he confirmed giving Emefiele’s aide a total sum of $17.1 million.”
EFCC investigators retrieved the businessman’s WhatsApp chats, which were printed at the commission’s Lagos office. When the prosecution moved to tender the chats as exhibits, Emefiele’s lead counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN), raised no objection.
However, Mr. Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN), representing co-defendant Henry Omoile, reserved his objections for the final written address and requested leave for an independent forensic examination of the exhibits.
The court granted both requests and instructed the defence to submit a formal application, with the prosecution allowed to respond.
The trial has been adjourned to October 7 for continuation.
