A former aide to ex-Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, Odoh Eric Ocheme, along with other suspects accused of stealing $6.23 million, is reportedly hiding in the United Kingdom (UK), according to police prosecutor Celestine Odo.
The revelation was made at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday during a hearing on the eight-count charge of theft filed against the accused.
Odo informed the court that an arrest warrant had been issued for the suspects on February 7, 2024, and that INTERPOL had been notified to facilitate their capture.
“They are in the UK. Until they are pinned down and arrested, we cannot bring them before the court. We are relying on INTERPOL’s cooperation,” Odo stated.
Due to their absence, the prosecution sought additional time, requesting an adjournment to allow INTERPOL to explore all options for their extradition.
Presiding Judge Inyang Ekwo expressed frustration over the delay, warning that if the same excuse was presented at the next hearing, he would consider striking out the case.
The case was adjourned to November 3 for the defendants' arraignment.
According to court documents (Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/19/2014), the $6.23 million was allegedly misappropriated on February 8, 2023, under the pretext of funding election observers.
A special presidential investigative team, led by Jim Obaze, probed Emefiele’s tenure and alleged that the theft was an inside job involving CBN officials in collaboration with Adamu Abubakar and Imam Abubakar, who were not CBN employees.
Ocheme, identified as Emefiele’s personal assistant, allegedly received $3.73 million, while the remaining $2.5 million was shared among the other accused.
Court filings allege that the accused individuals:
- Forged official letters from ex-President Muhammadu Buhari and former SGF Boss Mustapha, instructing the CBN to release $6.23 million.
- Falsely claimed that a man impersonating Jibril Abubakar was a staff member of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and had presidential approval to source funds for election observers.
These actions, prosecutors say, violate multiple laws, including:
- Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act
- Sections 1(1)(a) & 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act
With INTERPOL now involved, authorities are intensifying efforts to bring the suspects back to Nigeria to face trial.
