An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has testified in the ongoing fraud trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, detailing how an aide allegedly collected a total of $17.1 million from an Indian businessman, Raja Punjab, over a period of three years on behalf of the former governor of the apex bank.
Emefiele is facing charges of abuse of office and fraud involving $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion. He is being tried alongside one Herry Omoile.
Both of them are accused of receiving gratification, accepting gifts through agents, corruption, and fraudulent property transactions.
Testifying before Justice Rahmon Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja, EFCC Assistant Commander Alvan Gurumnaan said he led a special operations unit tasked with investigating both defendants.
Gurumnaan, who is the eighth prosecution witness, told the court that the EFCC received multiple intelligence reports against Emefiele, even while he was in office, alleging abuse of office, gratification, procurement fraud, and living beyond his means.
The investigation, he said, uncovered “credible intelligence” through inquiries across various CBN departments, including trade and exchange, legal, HR, and banking supervision. The team also engaged the Code of Conduct Bureau, Corporate Affairs Commission, and FMDQ for additional information.
Several CBN staff, including aides who worked directly under Emefiele, were questioned. Among them was one Eric Odoh, described as Emefiele’s personal assistant, who is now on an international watchlist after failing to respond to EFCC invitations.
Another aide, Monday Osazuwa, revealed during interrogation that Emefiele had once instructed him to call a contact who later delivered an undisclosed sum of dollars to be handed over to the ex-governor at an address in Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to Osazuwa, between September 2020 and June 2, 2023—just days before Emefiele’s suspension as CBN Governor—he repeatedly collected dollars from Raja Punjab, totaling $17.1 million, on Emefiele’s behalf. Osazuwa claimed that he either handed the funds directly to Emefiele or through the second defendant, Omoile, as directed by Emefiele.
He further stated that most of these handovers occurred on Fridays, when Emefiele was leaving the office, and that Emefiele would often call Raja Punjab to confirm receipt of the funds.
Gurumnaan said the EFCC also questioned Raja Punjab, who confirmed delivering the $17.1 million to Emefiele’s aide. Investigators obtained and printed WhatsApp chats from Punjab’s phone, which were presented as evidence in court.
Lead EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), sought to tender the printed chats as exhibits. While Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), did not object, Yinka Kotoye (SAN), counsel for the second defendant, reserved his objections for the final address stage.
Justice Oshodi admitted the documents as exhibits but granted the defence leave to apply for an independent forensic examination, following their request. The court ordered the defence to file a formal application, allowing the prosecution to respond accordingly.
The matter was adjourned to October 7, 2025, for the continuation of Gurumnaan’s testimony.
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