According to a report by Punch on February 9, 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a declaration stating that Margaret Emefiele, the wife of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and three others, are being sought for money laundering. The EFCC alleges that Mrs. Emefiele, along with Eric Odoh, Anita Omoile, and her husband Jonathan Omoile, conspired with the former CBN Governor to convert substantial amounts of money belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The offenses in question include obtaining money through false pretenses and stealing, which are punishable under Sections 411, 287, and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
Late Friday night, the EFCC revealed the details of the alleged money laundering offenses through a mugshot portrait of the four suspects. The document states that the quartet, consisting of Eric Odoh, Margaret Emefiele, Anita Omoile, and Jonathan Omoile, is wanted by the EFCC for economic and financial crimes. The EFCC urges anyone with information regarding their whereabouts to contact the nearest EFCC Command or police station.
A document titled "Arrests and Recoveries," exclusively obtained by Punch's correspondent, reveals that the former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, is currently facing prosecution by the EFCC for fraud amounting to ₦1.8 billion and $6.2 million. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has made its third amendment to the criminal charges filed against Emefiele.
In the latest amended charge presented before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday, the EFCC accuses Emefiele of illegally obtaining $6.2 million by impersonating the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The amended charge, marked CR/577/2023, alleges that on February 8, 2023, Emefiele collaborated with a fugitive named Odoh Ocheme to obtain the funds from the CBN, claiming it was requested by the SGF through a letter dated January 26, 2023.
The EFCC further asserts that Emefiele forged a document titled "Re: Presidential.directive on foreign election observers mission" dated January 26, 2023, with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201, in collaboration with the fugitive Ocheme, committing the offense of forgery.
Additionally, Emefiele is accused of providing corrupt benefits to his wife, Omoile Margaret, and brother-in-law, Omoile Macombo, by awarding them a contract worth N99.8 million for the renovation of a section of the CBN Governor's residence in Lagos. The contract was allegedly awarded to a company called Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Limited, in which the accused individuals serve as directors and majority shareholders. The EFCC considers this action a violation of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
The amended charge sheet includes a total of 20 counts against Emefiele. The judge has adjourned the proceedings until Friday for Emefiele to enter his plea regarding the amended charges.
In the original charge filed against Emefiele in August 2023, he was accused of engaging in procurement fraud amounting to N6.5 billion. Initially, he was charged alongside a female CBN employee named Sa'adatu Yaro and her company, April 1616 Investment. However, the EFCC later amended the charge, reducing the counts to six, removing the names of Yaro and April 1616 Investment, and reducing the alleged procurement fraud amount to N1.2 billion. Emefiele pleaded not guilty to the second charge when he was arraigned on November 29, 2023. The EFCC has called three witnesses thus far in the ongoing trial, prior to the most recent amendment.
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