Godwin Emefiele Faces New Charges Over Illegal Acquisition of 753 Duplexes

Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, is expected to appear today, June 16, before Justice Hallilu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in connection with the alleged unlawful acquisition of a massive housing estate in Abuja.

The estate, located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09 in Lokogoma District, spans over 150,000 square meters and consists of 753 duplexes. It has already been forfeited to the federal government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed fresh charges last month, accusing Emefiele of conspiring with a fugitive, Eric Ocheme, to illegally acquire the property and launder billions of naira through proxy accounts.

According to court documents (Charge No. CR/350/25, dated May 30, 2025), the estate was originally recovered from a former unnamed senior official, and its forfeiture had been previously upheld by the FCT High Court in Apo.

Emefiele had attempted to join the original forfeiture case as an interested party, but the court struck out his motion, clearing the way for today’s arraignment.