A prosecution witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday failed to establish any direct connection between former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and the Zenith Bank accounts mentioned in the ongoing property fraud trial.
Emefiele, who served as CBN governor from 2014 to 2023, is currently facing charges bordering on property fraud and money laundering. The disputed property, located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, covers 150,462.86 square meters and consists of 753 housing units.
During Friday’s proceedings before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Abuja High Court, the first prosecution witness, Mshelia Arhyel, a compliance officer at Zenith Bank, testified under examination by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN). Arhyel detailed transactions involving three companies — MG Properties Limited, Ifedigo Integrated Services, and Kelvito Integrated Services — into which funds were deposited.
However, under cross-examination by Emefiele’s counsel, Matthew Burkaa (SAN), the witness admitted that he did not know the owners of the accounts and that Emefiele’s name did not appear on any of the account opening documents. He also confirmed that he was never invited by the EFCC to make a statement regarding the accounts and only signed a certificate of compliance on May 29, unaware it would later be used as evidence.
Following the cross-examination, Justice Halilu adjourned the case until November 26 for continuation of the trial.
Earlier in the session, Burkaa had challenged the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that Emefiele had no legal or personal link to the charges and urging the court to quash the case entirely. The EFCC’s counsel, however, opposed the move, insisting that the defendant was connected to the alleged offences.
The EFCC accused Emefiele and his co-defendant, Eric Ocheme (currently at large), of holding and controlling funds suspected to be unlawfully obtained — including ₦167 million, ₦1.23 billion, ₦900 million, and ₦600 million allegedly domiciled in the accounts of the mentioned companies.
While the prosecution insists the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities, Friday’s testimony cast further doubt on any direct link between Emefiele and the Zenith Bank accounts at the heart of the investigation.
