The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, is scheduled to appear today, June 16, before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja.
His arraignment follows fresh criminal charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing him of the illegal acquisition of a sprawling estate comprising 753 duplexes in the nation’s capital.
According to the anti-graft agency, the estate—situated on Plot 109 within Cadastral Zone C09 of the Lokogoma District in Abuja—spans approximately 150,462.86 square meters. The vast property, now under federal government control, was reportedly acquired through illicit means during Emefiele’s tenure at the apex bank.
Court documents, specifically charge number CR/350/25 dated May 30, 2025, detail allegations that Emefiele acted in concert with one Mr. Eric Ocheme, who is said to be on the run.
The EFCC claims the two conspired to unlawfully take possession of the estate, which had earlier been recovered by the commission in a separate corruption case involving another unnamed former top government official.
The EFCC further alleges that Emefiele used proxy accounts to siphon and manage billions of naira, indicating a complex web of financial manipulation for personal enrichment.
Efforts by Emefiele to be legally recognized as an interested party in the earlier forfeiture proceedings were unsuccessful. His application, filed through his legal representative, Senior Advocate of Nigeria A.M. Kotoye, was dismissed by the court, effectively preventing him from contesting the forfeiture ruling that transferred the estate to government ownership.
With these fresh charges, Emefiele is expected to face a renewed round of legal battles as the EFCC intensifies its probe into allegations of large-scale financial impropriety and abuse of public office during his leadership at the central bank.