Abuja duplexes forfeited to EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed fresh charges against Godwin Emefiele, ex-governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The anti-graft agency is accusing Emefiele of unlawfully acquiring a massive housing estate and controlling billions of naira through proxy accounts.
In the charge sheet marked CR/350/25 and dated May 30, 2025, the EFCC alleges that Emefiele, in collusion with Eric Ocheme (currently at large), acquired a housing estate comprising 753 units located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja.
The property spans 150,462.86 square metres.
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The commission had previously recovered the estate from an unnamed former senior government official and secured a forfeiture order from the federal capital territory high court in Apo, Abuja.
Emefiele, represented by A.M. Kotoye (SAN), challenged the forfeiture but his motion was dismissed by the court.
He has since appealed the decision at the court of appeal in Abuja.
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The estate has been handed over to the federal government, which plans to sell it to low and middle-income Nigerians.
Emefiele has filed a notice of injunction seeking to prevent further action on the property until his appeal is heard.
Below are the charges.
COUNT 1 – 8: UNLAWFUL ACQUISITION OF ESTATE
The EFCC, in an eight-count charge naming Emefiele as the sole defendant, alleged that he knowingly controlled property reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully acquired.
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The charges also claimed violations under Section 319(A) of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990.
In August 2021, Emefiele and Eric Ocheme are alleged to have knowingly controlled property located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja.
COUNT 2: CONTROL OF FUNDS IN 2019
Between January and December 2019, Emefiele and Ocheme are accused of controlling N167,300,000 (one hundred and sixty-seven million, three hundred thousand naira) in Kelvito Integrated Services’ Zenith Bank account.
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This sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.
COUNT 3: CONTROL OF FUNDS IN 2020
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From January to December 2020, the duo allegedly had under their control the total sum of N1,235,959,000 (one billion, two hundred and thirty-five million, nine hundred and fifty-nine thousand naira) in Kelvito Integrated Services’ account No: 1016232915 with Zenith Bank Plc.
COUNT 4: CONTROL OF FUNDS IN 2021
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Between January and December 2021, Emefiele and Ocheme are said to have controlled N2,945,331,050 (two billion, nine hundred and forty-five million, three hundred and thirty-one thousand fifty naira) in Kelvito Integrated Services’ Zenith Bank account.
COUNT 5: CONTROL OF FUNDS IN 2022
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From January to December 2022, they are accused of controlling N1,985,412,246 (one billion, nine hundred and eighty-five million, four hundred and twelve thousand, two hundred and forty-six naira) in the same Kelvito Integrated Services’ Zenith Bank account.
COUNT 5: CONTROL OF FUNDS IN 2022
From January to December 2022, they are accused of controlling N1,985,412,246 (one billion, nine hundred and eighty-five Million, Four Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty-Six Naira) in the same Kelvito Integrated Services’ Zenith Bank account.
Count 6: CONTROL OF FUNDS IN IFEDIGO ACCOUNT
Emefiele and Ocheme allegedly controlled the total sum of N900,000,000 (nine hundred million naira) in Ifedigo Integrated Services’ account No: 1210750237 with Zenith Bank Plc.
This sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.
COUNT 7: ADDITIONAL CONTROL OF FUNDS IN IFEDIGO ACCOUNT
In August 2021, in Abuja, Emefiele and his alleged accomplice are claimed to have knowingly controlled the total sum of N600,000,000 (six hundred million naira) in the same Ifedigo Integrated Services’ account No: 1210750237 with Zenith bank Plc.
This sum is also reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.
COUNT 8: FORGERY OF DOCUMENT
In January 2021, Emefiele was accused of forging a document titled ‘Irrevocable Power of Attorney Between MG Properties Limited and H and Y Business Global Limited’ to mislead others into believing it was authorised by H and Y Business Global Limited.
The EFCC has listed 24 witnesses, including representatives from Zenith and Access banks, to testify when the trial begins.
