A witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday told a Lagos court that Godwin Emefiele, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), allegedly received $17.1 million in cash through a proxy over a span of three years.
Testifying before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja, EFCC operative Alvan Gurumnaan said the funds were routinely handed to Henry Omoile, a known associate of Emefiele, at the former CBN governor’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, between 2020 and 2023.
Led in evidence by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Gurumnaan revealed that the financial trail was uncovered through testimonies and statements from Monday Osazuwa, a dispatch rider who previously appeared as the prosecution’s first witness in the case.
According to the witness, Osazuwa recounted running confidential errands for Emefiele, including being instructed by the ex-governor to call a London-based contact named Mohit, who then connected him to an unidentified individual in Nigeria.
“From September 2020 to 2023, Osazuwa collected money in U.S. dollars from this individual on behalf of Mr. Emefiele, totaling $17.1 million,” Gurumnaan testified. He added that the cash was delivered in batches directly to Omoile at the Ikoyi residence.
The court proceedings are part of a wider probe into alleged corruption, money laundering, and abuse of office under Emefiele’s tenure as Nigeria’s apex bank chief. The EFCC has accused Emefiele of diverting public funds, engaging in unlawful cash transactions, and maintaining unauthorized influence over financial flows.
Emefiele, who is already facing multiple charges in both Lagos and Abuja, has denied all wrongdoing. His legal team is expected to respond formally to the latest testimony when the trial resumes.
