Godwin Emefiele faces fresh arraignment over illegal acquisition of 753 duplexes

Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, is set to be arraigned today, June 16, before Justice Hallilu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court over the alleged illegal acquisition of 753 duplexes.

The sprawling estate, located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, spans 150,462.86 square meters and contains 753 housing units. It has since been forfeited to the federal government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed fresh charges last month, accusing Emefiele of unlawfully acquiring the estate and allegedly stealing and controlling billions of naira through proxy accounts.

According to the charge marked CR/350/25 and dated May 30, 2025, Emefiele allegedly conspired with one Eric Ocheme—currently at large—to acquire the property illegally.

The EFCC stated that the estate was previously recovered from an unnamed former senior government official and that a forfeiture order was granted by the FCT High Court in Apo.

Emefiele, through his counsel, A.M. Kotoye (SAN), filed a motion to be joined in the case as an interested party, but the court dismissed the application.