Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially declared Margaret Emefiele, the wife of the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, wanted in connection with an alleged financial conspiracy.
The investigation is part of a broader probe into the conversion of substantial sums of money belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Accompanying Margaret Emefiele in the list of wanted suspects are Eric Odoh, a CBN official; a business woman identified as Anita Omoile, and Bureau De Change operator, Jonathan Omoile. All four individuals are facing charges related to economic and financial crimes.
Margaret Emefiele, who reportedly went into hiding following her husband’s arrest and subsequent court charges, is among those whose mugshots have been released by the EFCC on its official website and social media channels. The public is urged to provide any information regarding their whereabouts.
This development adds another layer of complexity to the legal issues surrounding Godwin Emefiele. His legal troubles began after his suspension by Bola Tinubu on June 9, 2023, leading to his arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Lagos. Subsequently, he faced money laundering and fraud charges, with the EFCC assuming custody of the case.
Tinubu appointed Jim Obazee as the Special Investigator to scrutinize the operations of the apex bank during Emefiele’s tenure.
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Allegations included claims that Emefiele had opened 593 foreign bank accounts without proper approvals, holding substantial funds in fixed deposits across the United Kingdom, the United States, and China.
Emefiele vehemently denied the accusations, labeling them as “satanic.” He noted that he had obtained necessary approvals during his tenure and accused the private investigator of pursuing a biased agenda.
The EFCC’s move to declare his wife wanted further intensifies the legal saga, raising questions about the depth of the alleged financial conspiracy.