An officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Alvan Gurumnaan, testifying as the eighth prosecution witness, has told the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja how former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, allegedly received a total of $17.1 million in cash over three years through a proxy.

Led in evidence by EFCC counsel and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo, Gurumnaan informed Justice Rahman Oshodi that the cash was delivered in tranches between 2020 and 2023. According to the witness, the funds were handed to Emefiele’s associate and co-defendant, Henry Omoile.

Emefiele and Omoile are facing a 19-count charge bordering on alleged corrupt demands and gratification amounting to $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion.

Testifying on Tuesday, Gurumnaan, who heads the EFCC’s special operations team, said the investigation was triggered by intelligence reports received while Emefiele was still in office.

He stated: “We found the intelligence credible and acted by writing several letters to the CBN, requesting documents and directing officers from various departments—Trade and Exchange, Currency Operations, Banking Supervision, Legal, and HR—to appear before us for questioning.”

He added that similar requests were made to the Code of Conduct Bureau, Corporate Affairs Commission, commercial banks, and the FMDQ. According to him, responses from CBN staff and related agencies were recorded, and some individuals were temporarily detained.

Gurumnaan said several individuals who worked closely with Emefiele were also interrogated, including Monday Osazuwa, John Adetola, and John Ogar. He noted that a key figure in the case, Eric Odoh, Emefiele’s personal assistant, absconded and was later traced to multiple countries, including Canada and the Dominican Republic.

“We issued a red notice to INTERPOL and placed him on a watchlist. He remains at large,” he said.

Gurumnaan also told the court that Osazuwa admitted knowing Emefiele from their days at Zenith Bank, where the former CBN governor had facilitated his employment at the Lagos CBN office. Osazuwa confirmed running both official and personal errands for Emefiele.

“In one instance, Osazuwa was directed to contact a businessman in Victoria Island, Lagos, who, between September 2020 and June 2023, delivered $17.1 million in cash for Emefiele through Osazuwa. The money was handed to Omoile, who either passed it on to Emefiele directly or held it for him,” he said.

Most of the transactions reportedly occurred on Fridays while Emefiele was in Lagos.

The EFCC has since tendered documents relating to the transactions as evidence.

Emefiele, through his counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), has applied for a forensic examination of the documents. However, the prosecution objected, urging the court to demand a formal application.

Counsel for the second defendant, Yinka Kotoye (SAN), reminded the court that the defence had earlier requested access to the materials, which the prosecution allegedly failed to provide.

Justice Oshodi ruled that the defence must file a formal motion to involve a forensic expert. The case was adjourned to 7, 8, and 9 October 2025, following the court’s annual vacation.