Former CBN governor, GODWIN EMEFIELE, received $17.1m cash through proxy in 3 years - EFCC

Friday, May 30, 2025 - An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged that former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, received $17.1 million in cash through a proxy over a period of three years.

Testifying before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Tuesday, EFCC investigator Alvan Gurumnaan stated that the funds were delivered between 2020 and 2023 and handed over to Henry Omoile, an associate of Emefiele, at the ex-governor’s Ikoyi residence.

Gurumnaan, led in evidence by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, said the financial trail was discovered through the statement of a dispatch rider, Monday Osazuwa, who previously testified for the prosecution.

“The personal errands Osazuwa ran for Emefiele, according to him, was when he received a call from Emefiele, who then sent him a phone number and asked him to call Mohit who was in London. After he called Mohit, Mohit gave him the contact of an individual,” Gurumnaan told the court.

“Osazuwa met the individual from September 2020 to 2023, and received monies in dollars on behalf of Emefiele — a total of $17,100,000. Upon receiving the sums, Osazuwa went to Emefiele’s house at Ikoyi and handed over the money to the second defendant, Henry Omoile, as instructed by the first defendant.”

He said the transactions typically occurred on Fridays and were coordinated through WhatsApp messages, which were retrieved and printed after the EFCC secured permission to access the phone.

“We obtained proper authorization before accessing the phone, and the relevant WhatsApp messages were sent to the email of my colleague, Musa Idi,” he said.

Gurumnaan, who has served in the EFCC’s Special Investigation Department since 2008, added that the commission had received several petitions against Emefiele, alleging abuse of office and financial impropriety

“We wrote to the Central Bank of Nigeria, Corporate Affairs Commission, Department of Legal Services, and Financial Market Dealers Quotations to request supporting documents,” he said. “After collating the documents, we invited officials from those institutions. Some were delayed while others were released on bail.”

He said individuals close to Emefiele, including John Adetola and John Ogah, were interviewed during the investigation. One name, Eric Udoh, featured prominently, but efforts to reach him have been unsuccessful.

“There is a report tracing him to the Dominican Republic, Canada, and the United Kingdom. As an effort to bring him to answer questions, we contacted Interpol and have placed him on red. He is now wanted all over the world,” Gurumnaan said.

Emefiele and Omoile are facing a 19-count charge bordering on corrupt demands and gratification amounting to $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion. The court adjourned the case to October 7 and 8, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.