While the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has continued to shield the identity of the person behind the forfeited 753 duplexes and other apartments, court documents have revealed the owner of the multi billion Naira properties.
According to the documents, the recovered 753 duplexes and other apartments on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, belongs to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele.
The court affidavits detailing how Mr Emefiele acquired the said property with “kickback” from contractors were published by Omoyele Sowore, AAC presidential candidate in 2023, on Tuesday, following his Monday tweet in which he said the asset was recovered from Mr Emefiele. He had berated the anti-graft for concealing the former CBN governor’s identity.
“That our investigation equally revealed that erstwhile CBN governor received kickbacks from some contractors who were awarded contracts by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“That upon investigation, it was revealed that one Ifeanyi Omeke, a deputy general manager and head, litigation of Zenith Bank Plc, worked closely with Godwin Emefiele and ran several errands for him which included purchase and perfection of title documents for several properties located in highbrow areas of Lagos and Abuja,” the affidavits read in part.
Mr Sowore released the affidavits on Tuesday following an EFCC statement criticising him for accusing the anti-graft agency of concealing Mr Emefiele’s identity.
The EFCC, in a statement on Tuesday, explained that Mr Emefiele’s identity was concealed in its Monday statement because the investigation was still ongoing.
“It is important to note that the substantive criminal investigation on the matter still continues. It would be unprofessional of the EFCC to go to town by mentioning names of individuals whose identities were not directly linked to any title document of the properties. The EFCC is unwavering in its no-sacred-cow approach to every matter, and together, we will make Nigeria greater,” the EFCC said.
