$2 Million, Property Documents Recovered From Zenith Bank Headquarters Belong To Emefiele-Witness

David Jaiyeoba, an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigator, has narrated how Collins Omeife, a lawyer, was caught with $2 million cash and admitted it belonged to former CBN governor Godwin Emefiele.

Testifying as the 12th prosecution witness in Emefiele’s ongoing corruption trial at the FCT High Court in Abuja on Thursday, Jaiyeoba told the court that EFCC operatives arrested Omeife with $2,045,000 in cash at the Zenith Bank headquarters in Lagos.

“Two million dollars was discovered to have come from one Eric Ocheme Odo. The said Eric was PA (Personal Assistant) to the defendant [Emefiele] during his tenure as governor of CBN. It was confirmed by the person who kept the over $2,045,000, who happens to be the lawyer of the defendant, that the cash we found in his possession was the property of the defendant. We found property documents and he also confirmed that the property belonged to the defendant,” he said.

“Funds amounting to $2,045,000 alongside several property title documents were recovered from Zenith Bank Plc Headquarters in Lagos in the possession of one Mr Collins Omeife, lawyer to the defendant [Emefiele]. In the course of our investigations on Collins, it was discovered that Mr Collins Omeife had been acquiring and perfecting title documents on the instruction of the defendant.”

In an earlier testimony, Jaiyeoba noted that the properties Omeife had been acquiring and perfecting title documents for on Emefiele’s behalf included a detached duplex at No. 17B Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1; a bungalow and undeveloped land measuring 1,919.592 square metres on Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi; the four-bedroom duplex at 12A Probyn Road, Ikoyi; eight units of undetached apartments on Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi; a detached duplex on Bank Road, Ikoyi; and an industrial complex under construction on 22 plots in Agbor, Delta State.

Jaiyeoba added that Emefiele himself confirmed ownership of all these properties during forfeiture proceedings previously initiated by the EFCC.

Furthermore, Jaiyeoba noted that Emefiele approved payments for contracts to some companies, including Architekon Nigeria Limited. He told the court that the company was promoted by MacCombo Omoile, Emefiele’s brother-in-law, and Margaret Omoile, his wife.

In court, the prosecution team led by Rotimi Oyedepo, the Director of Public Prosecutions, tendered Emefiele’s extrajudicial statement through Jaiyeoba.

Matthew Burkaa (SAN), Emefiele’s defence counsel, reserved his objection. Judge Hamza Muazu admitted the statement.

The court adjourned the case until March 16 for further hearing.