ABUJA — A prosecution witness in the ongoing ₦7.8 billion alleged property fraud trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has told an Abuja High Court how billions of naira were deposited into accounts of companies reportedly linked to the ex-apex bank chief.
The witness, a former Zenith Bank employee, gave the testimony before Justice Yusuf Halilu at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, where Emefiele is facing charges of criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy and unlawful possession of property.
Led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the witness said he processed multiple high-value transactions into accounts associated with companies allegedly connected to Emefiele, acting on instructions said to have been relayed through his aide, Eric Ocheme.
“I have not seen the first defendant giving money to Mr Ocheme, but he gives instructions through his phone to carry out transactions,” the witness told the court during cross-examination.
According to the witness, the funds were routed through corporate accounts linked to property transactions under investigation, with payments executed based on directives he received at the time.
Ocheme, who is also listed as a defendant in the case, is reportedly at large.
The EFCC has alleged that Emefiele used proxies and corporate entities to conceal ownership of funds and assets, including a 753-unit housing estate in Abuja said to be tied to the alleged fraud.
Earlier in the proceedings, another prosecution witness, a Zenith Bank compliance officer, testified that deposits were made into accounts belonging to companies such as MG Properties Limited, Ifedigo Integrated Services and Kelvito Integrated Services.
However, the compliance officer acknowledged under cross-examination that Emefiele’s name did not appear on the account-opening documents of the companies and that available records did not directly identify him as the account holder.
Emefiele has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has consistently denied any involvement in the alleged transactions, maintaining that the accusations are unfounded.
The trial is ongoing, with the prosecution expected to call additional witnesses as it seeks to establish its case against the former CBN governor.
