EFCC Witness Admits He Did Not Personally Interview Emefiele in Alleged Procurement Fraud Trial

Investigator tells FCT High Court probe relied on team interviews and documents, as defence questions EFCC’s methodology and timeline.

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By A1NEWS International Staff | Abuja, Nigeria

An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama that he did not personally interview former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, during investigations into alleged procurement fraud. The revelation came during cross-examination in the ongoing high-profile trial.

Witness Distances Himself from Direct Interrogation
The EFCC witness, David Jaiyeoba, who appeared as the 12th prosecution witness, disclosed under cross-examination that the interrogation of Emefiele was conducted by his team rather than by him personally.

“I did not personally interview the defendant; my team did,” he told the court.

He explained that the investigation was carried out by EFCC units in both Abuja and Lagos, with different teams handling various aspects of the probe based on operational convenience.

Charges Against Emefiele
Former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele is facing a 20-count amended charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy, and obtaining money by false pretence. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Central to the allegations is a claim that Emefiele obtained $6.23 million, purportedly for funding international election observers during Nigeria’s 2023 general elections. The EFCC also accused him of conferring undue advantage on two firms—April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.

No Direct Link to Company Accounts
During proceedings, the witness admitted that Emefiele was neither a signatory nor confirmed as a director or shareholder in the accounts of the companies mentioned in the charges.

“My evidence never mentioned April 1616,” Jaiyeoba stated, adding that he could not establish the defendant’s direct ownership or control of the entities.

Investigation Based on Documents, Not Site Visits
The witness further revealed that the EFCC relied heavily on documentary evidence and statements from other suspects. He admitted that he did not visit any of the locations tied to the alleged renovation contracts, including the CBN Governor’s residence.

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Instead, investigators depended on statements provided by officials of Architekon Nigeria Ltd regarding the projects in question.

Uncertainty Over CBN Procurement Process
Under further questioning, Jaiyeoba acknowledged gaps in his knowledge of the Central Bank’s internal procurement procedures. He confirmed he was unaware of the specific committee responsible for vetting contracts and could not confirm whether Emefiele was a member of the Major Contract Tender Committee.

“I am not a staff of the CBN, so I would not know,” he said.

Appeal Court Decision Raises New Questions
The defence also confronted the witness with a Court of Appeal ruling that overturned a previous forfeiture order on properties linked to the defendant. Jaiyeoba admitted he was unaware of the judgment but acknowledged that the EFCC is bound by the appellate court’s decision.

The appellate court had, in June 2025, nullified the earlier forfeiture and ordered a fresh hearing.

Timeline of Investigation Under Scrutiny
Defence counsel raised concerns over the sequence of events in the EFCC’s investigation, noting that Emefiele’s statements were obtained several weeks after charges had already been filed.

The witness, however, said he could not confirm the specific dates or explain the discrepancy.

Court Adjourns for Continuation
Earlier, the prosecution tendered Emefiele’s extrajudicial statement through the witness, while the defence requested the production of a report by an inter-agency task force led by the State Security Service (SSS), said to have triggered the investigation.

Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned the case until Tuesday for continuation of trial.