By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
A prosecution witness has told an FCT High Court that the sum of $2 million was recovered from the lawyer of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
The witness, David Jaiyeoba, who is from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday testified that the lawyer, Collins Omeife, confirmed during interrogation that the cash belonged to Mr Emefiele.
Testifying on Thursday, Jaiyeoba said Omeife confirmed during interrogation that he received funds regularly from Emefiele’s personal assistant, Eric Ocheme.
He said the funds were used to acquire properties and renovate some old assets for Mr Emefiele.
He listed some of the properties in question to include detached duplexes at No. 17B Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos State; a bungalow and undeveloped land measuring 1919.592 square meter on Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi and a four-bedroom duplex at 12A Probyn Road, Ikoyi.
Others are an industrial complex under construction on 22 plots in Agbor, Delta State; eight units of undetached apartment on Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State; and a detached duplex on Bank Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State.
The EFCC had in June 2023 charged Emefiele with 20-count amended charges bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, obtaining by false pretence, conspiracy to commit forgery, procurement fraud, and conspiracy to commit a felony.
The charges also include the alleged fraudulent payout of $6.23 million from the CBN vault in Abuja in 2023 under the guise of payments for phoney foreign election observers’ expenses.
Mr Emefiele denied all the charges.
Daily Trust