The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed new charges against former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele. The charges, submitted to a High Court in Abuja, allege that Emefiele unlawfully acquired a housing estate consisting of 753 units and misappropriated billions of naira through proxy accounts.
The EFCC’s case, marked CR/350/25 and dated May 30, 2025, claims that Emefiele collaborated with Eric Ocheme, who is currently at large, to unlawfully acquire the property located in Lokogoma District, Abuja. The estate spans over 150,000 square meters.
Previously, the EFCC recovered this estate from an unnamed former senior government official and secured a forfeiture order from the Federal Capital Territory High Court. Emefiele’s legal team has contested this order but was unsuccessful in the High Court. He has since appealed the decision, seeking to overturn the forfeiture.
The EFCC has detailed eight counts against Emefiele, accusing him of knowingly controlling unlawfully acquired property and funds. Specific allegations include:
- Controlling property suspected to be unlawfully acquired.
- Misappropriating various sums from accounts linked to Kelvito Integrated Services across multiple years, totaling over ₦5 billion.
- Forging documents to mislead stakeholders.
The EFCC plans to call 24 witnesses, including representatives from financial institutions, when the trial begins. Emefiele has faced multiple criminal charges since his resignation in June 2023, following his detention by the Department of State Services.
