David Jaiyeoba, a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Abuja that $2.045 million in cash and several property documents were traceable to Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
During his testimony in the current trial, Jaiyeoba, the 12th prosecution witness and an EFCC agent, connected the money and real estate purchases to bank transactions, approvals, and statements gathered during the commission’s investigation.
The witness, who was led in testimony by Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC head of public prosecutions, found many internal CBN memoranda authorizing payments for furnishing, power supply, landscaping, and refurbishment of the former Apex Bank governor’s private property in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The witness informed the court that a number of documents, including an internal CBN memorandum authorizing payments to Architeco Nigeria Limited for renovations in Emefiele’s home, were introduced as exhibits.
A contract agreement outlining the landscaping services provided by the same company at the Ikoyi property was also submitted.
He also cited another internal CBN memo that asked for permission to pay Architeco Nigeria Limited N97,998,416.38 for office equipment, stressing that Emefiele had granted the request.
Furthermore, the witness identified exhibit A8 as an internal memo related to a contract for the Ikoyi residence’s dedicated power line installation. He claimed that the paper had the defendant’s consent and was supported by an interim payment certificate.
Jaiyeoba further informed the court that the EFCC sent a letter to Zenith Bank to follow the defendant’s bank account as part of the investigation.
He recognized Exhibits ED1, ED2, and ED3 as Zenith Bank’s reply concerning Emefiele’s account.
The witness claimed that N4 million was paid to Architeco Nigeria Limited on January 13, 2015, through a debit transaction on account number 2020000064.
The investigation resulted in the recovery of $2.045 million, multiple properties, and title documents from Zenith Bank Plc’s Lagos headquarters, the court was further informed.
“My Lord, the $2,045,000 in funds, along with a number of properties and title documents, were found in the possession of Mr. Collins Omeke, the defendant’s attorney, at the Zenith Bank Plc headquarters in Lagos,” he stated.
He stated that Omeke told investigators he had been purchasing houses and preparing title paperwork on the directions of the defendant.
The witness said, “When asked how he financed these purchases, My Lord, he confirmed that the defendant was in the habit of giving him cash sums in foreign currency, specifically US dollars, for the acquisition of those properties.”
The witness further informed the court that Omeke claimed that Eric Ocheme Udoh had handed the money that had been recovered from him on behalf of the defendant, and that some of the money had been used to renovate portions of Emefiele’s property.
The prosecution requested at the conclusion of the session that the trial be continued on March 3, 5, 16, and 17, 2026.
Matthew Burkaaa, defence counsel, did not oppose the application but argued there was repetition of evidence, adding that an earlier witness, PW7, had already identified approvals pertaining to the transactions.
He cautioned that if the pattern persisted in later sessions, the defense would raise an objection.
In response, the prosecution begged the court to permit it to present its case as it saw fit, arguing that the consistency of its case justified the strategy.
The trial judge, Hamza Muazu, expressed concern in his remarks that the prosecution seemed “too careful” and frequently needed the court’s encouragement, but he said he would make accommodations.
As a result, he postponed the trial until March 5, 16, and 17, 2026.
