The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed fresh charges against former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, over the unlawful acquisition of a 753-unit housing estate in Abuja and the control of billions of naira in suspicious bank accounts.
The charges were filed on May 30, 2025, before a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The EFCC accuses Emefiele of collaborating with Eric Ocheme, who is reportedly at large, to acquire the property located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, covering over 150,000 square metres.
The EFCC also alleged that Emefiele controlled several bank accounts containing billions of naira believed to have been unlawfully obtained.
The charges, filed as CR/350/25, include eight counts, ranging from unlawful acquisition of property to forgery.
“The former CBN governor is accused of controlling property and funds that are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities,” the EFCC stated.
Emefiele’s lawyer, A.M. Kotoye (SAN), filed a motion challenging the forfeiture order on the estate, but it was dismissed by the High Court.
Emefiele has since appealed the decision and filed an injunction to prevent the government from selling the estate pending the appeal’s outcome.
The EFCC’s charges include detailed allegations of Emefiele controlling over ₦7 billion across various bank accounts in 2019 through 2022.
Additionally, Count Eight alleges he forged a document to mislead authorities regarding the ownership of the estate.
The EFCC has lined up 24 witnesses for the upcoming trial, including representatives from Zenith Bank and Access Bank.
Emefiele served as CBN governor from 2014 until June 2023, when he was detained by the Department of State Services and resigned while in custody. He faces multiple other criminal charges in courts across Abuja and Lagos.
