The EFCC has presented new evidence in the ongoing N4.5bn fraud trial of former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, including WhatsApp chats and witness testimony alleging $600,000 cash deliveries to the ex-bank chief
Court Admits Fresh Evidence as EFCC Links Emefiele to Alleged $600,000 Cash Deliveries in Ongoing N4.5bn Fraud Trial
Court Admits Fresh Evidence as EFCC Links Emefiele to Alleged $600,000 Cash Deliveries in Ongoing N4.5bn Fraud Trial
The trial of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, over an alleged ₦4.5 billion fraud, continued on Wednesday, October 9, 2025, before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos, with the prosecution presenting new evidence said to link the embattled former CBN chief to cash deliveries totaling $600,000.
In a ruling that strengthened the prosecution’s case, Justice Oshodi overruled objections raised by Emefiele’s defence counsels and admitted key documents tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as Exhibits G and H.
The prosecution team, led by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, continued the examination-in-chief of Alvan Gurumnaan, an EFCC operative who gave fresh testimony on alleged financial transactions traced to Emefiele.
According to Gurumnaan, EFCC investigations uncovered WhatsApp conversations between two individuals — Henry and John Adetola — in which they discussed delivering large sums of U.S. dollars to “Oga,” allegedly referring to Emefiele.
Reading from Exhibit G, the operative said, “Henry told John Adetola in the WhatsApp chat to give $400,000 to ‘Oga’. He even said Adetola should talk to ‘Oga’ on WhatsApp if possible.”
Gurumnaan further told the court that Adetola, during interrogation, confessed to travelling to Lekki, Lagos, where he met Ayo, the personal assistant to the CBN Governor, and handed over the $400,000.
“Adetola confirmed that after delivering the $400,000 to Ayo, he proceeded to the CBN office in Lagos, where Ayo handed the money directly to Emefiele,” Gurumnaan said.
He added that a second transaction involving another $200,000 was also personally delivered by Ayo to Emefiele at his office.
The witness disclosed that Mr. Victor Oyedua, a CBN contractor, admitted to giving Ayo the two sums — $400,000 and $200,000 — to facilitate the release of pending contract payments.
“He confirmed that he was a CBN contractor and had two pending contracts. He said he was told he needed to ‘settle some management’ to get his payments processed. That was why he delivered the money,” Gurumnaan testified.
The EFCC also tendered several documents obtained from the CBN, including an original company letter dated February 24, 2024, described by Oyedepo as “primary evidence” gathered during investigation.
However, defence counsels Olalekan Ojo, SAN, and Kazeem Gbadamosi, SAN, objected to the admissibility of the documents, arguing that some were uncertified and photocopied. Justice Oshodi dismissed the objections and admitted the materials as Exhibit H.
The prosecution further tendered John Adetola’s mobile phone (a Xiaomi Mi 10T), which was switched on and placed in flight mode, as Exhibit I. From the device, investigators extracted additional WhatsApp chats between Adetola and Henry, corroborating earlier findings.
In a new twist, Oyedepo also sought to tender Emefiele’s written statements made during his EFCC interrogation. The defence objected, claiming the statements were obtained under duress.
Justice Oshodi consequently ordered a trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of the statements and directed both parties to report on November 21, 2025, regarding the agreed forensic inspection of the disputed documents.
The case was subsequently adjourned to December 2 and 3, 2025, for continuation of the mini-trial. Read More
