The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed fresh charges against former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, accusing him of illegal acquisition of 753 housing units and holding billions of naira in proxy accounts.

The eight-count charge, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, alleges that Emefiele, in conspiracy with one Eric Ocheme – who is currently at large – fraudulently acquired the estate located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, in August 2021.

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According to court documents, Emefiele allegedly controlled ₦167 million in a proxy account with Zenith Bank in 2019, funds the EFCC claim are reasonably suspected to be unlawfully obtained.

The charges further allege that between 2020 and 2022, Emefiele and Ocheme managed sums totalling over ₦5.1 billion across accounts registered under Kelvito Integrated Services and Ifedigo Integrated Services – all domiciled with Zenith Bank.

One charge reads: “That you, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE and ERIC OCHEME (AT LARGE)… had under control the total sum of ₦2,945,331,050… domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services’ account… which sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.”

The EFCC said it had secured a court order last week to forfeit the entire estate to the Federal Government. However, Emefiele has filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking to overturn the ruling.