By Deborah Nnamdi
A Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on Wednesday heard fresh digital evidence in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, over alleged N233 billion fraud.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Rahman Oshodi, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented new forensic findings linking some of Emefiele’s aides and associates to questionable money transfers and coded communications.
Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), an EFCC operative, Alvan Gurumnaan, testified on the forensic analysis of mobile phones and other digital records recovered during the investigation.
According to Gurumnaan, one of the key discoveries was a WhatsApp conversation that included the acronym “PCS,” which investigators later decoded to mean “one piece,” representing ₦1,000.
He further testified about the content of messages extracted from the phone of Mr. John Adetola, a former executive assistant to Emefiele. The EFCC operative said WhatsApp chats between Adetola and one Mr. Eric Eboh contained instructions to deliver $400,000 “for Oga,” allegedly referring to Emefiele.
Gurumnaan stated that Adetola confirmed receiving and delivering the money as instructed. He added that Eboh has so far evaded arrest despite several efforts by the EFCC to locate him.
The prosecution sought to tender a bundle of documents extracted from Adetola’s device as evidence, but defence counsels, Olalekan Ojo (SAN) and Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN), opposed the move, arguing that the documents were not properly certified in line with the Evidence Act.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Justice Oshodi reserved ruling on the admissibility of the documents and adjourned the case to October 9, 2025, for a decision.
Emefiele is facing trial alongside Henry Omoile on multiple counts of corruption, abuse of office, and fraudulent mismanagement of public funds totalling over ₦233 billion during his tenure as CBN Governor.
The EFCC has alleged that a network of electronic communications and financial transactions linked to Emefiele’s aides will further establish the trail of illicit funds traced to him.
