A lead investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Alvan Gurumnaan on Tuesday told an Ikeja Special court that a sum of $17.1 million was received by an aide to the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, over a three-year period.

Emefiele is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on receiving gratification and corrupt demands.

Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is facing a three-count charge bordering on unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents. The duo are being charged with alleged fraud totaling $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.

Gurumnaan, an Assistant Commandant with EFCC said that he was assigned to head a special operations unit tasked with investigating both defendants.

Gurumnaan, the eight prosecution witness said this while being led in evidence by EFCC lead counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).

He told the court that the anti-graft agency had earlier received several intelligence reports against Emefiele even while in office bordering on allegations of abuse of office, demanding and receiving gratification, procurement fraud, as well as living above means.

The witness told the court that one of the former CBN governor’s close aides, Mr. Monday Osazuwa, received the large sums from a businessman at an address in Victoria Island, Lagos, between Sept. 2020 and June 2023.

“The total money given is 17.1 million in dollars. Mr. Osazuwa collected these sums in various tranches and delivered them to Mr. Godwin Emefiele at his Ikoyi residence,”he said.

Gurumnaan further confirmed to the court that he had been with the EFCC since 2008, confirmed that part of the money was also handed over to one Henry Omoile, on the instruction of Emefiele.

He said: “The EFCC investigation uncovered these transactions following intelligence reports alleging procurement fraud and abuse of office by Emefiele while he was in office as CBN Governor.

“The commission’s special operations team launched a far-reaching investigation, issuing multiple requests for documents and inviting key staff from several CBN departments, including financial markets, trade and exchange, banking supervision, legal, currency operations and human resources.

“One name that surfaced repeatedly during the investigation was that of Eric Odoh, Emefiele’s former personal assistant.

“All means to bring Odoh in for questioning were unsuccessful as he had absconded and traced to United Kingdom, Canada and other countries.”

The witness further said that his team uncovered “credible intelligence” during the investigation, which spanned enquiries to various departments within the apex bank, such as trade and exchange market, legal, HR, and banking supervision.

He confirmed to the court that certain officials were also invited for questioning, some of whom were either cautioned before their responses were taken, while some were detained and later released to reliable sureties.

The investigator also said EFCC wrote to agencies such as the Code of Conduct Bureau, Corporate Affairs Commission and the FMDQ, seeking more information.

He says it was during the investigation that some staff who worked directly under Mr Emefiele either at the CBN’s headquarters or at the Lagos annex were questioned.

The witness said: “Other instances, the aide said he handed over the money directly to Mr Emefiele, and that those transactions mostly occured on Fridays when he is leaving leaving the office.

“The aide said Mr Emefiele always confirm the receipt of the sums of monies with the businessman in question over the phone after each transaction.

“The contact person was also invited for questioning and he confirmed giving Mr Emefiele’s aide a total sum of $17.1m.

“The team also examined the phone of the businessman, and some WhatsApp chats were revealed and printed at the EFCC Lagos office for use during the trial.”

NAN reports that when the prosecution sought to tender the printed documents as exhibits, lead counsel to Emefiele, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN) did not object but counsel Emefiele’s co-defendant, Mr Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN), urged the court to allow him tender his objections during final address stage.

The judge agreed and admitted the documents as exhibits. But, both defence counsel requested leave of court to conduct an independent forensic examination of the particular exhibits.

Defence submitted that it would be beneficial for them during cross examination of the witness.

The court thereafter ordered them to file a formal application to that effect to allow the prosecution file an appropriate response.

The case was adjourned until to Oct. 7 for continuation of trial

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