The Federal High Court in Abuja has been informed that Odoh Ocheme, a former aide to ex-Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, and two other suspects accused of stealing $6.23 million in cash from the CBN are currently hiding in the United Kingdom (UK).
A police prosecutor, Celestine Odo, disclosed this during court proceedings on Thursday, while requesting more time to track and apprehend the fugitives through INTERPOL.
Key Suspects Still at Large
Odo identified the other accused persons as Adamu Abubakar and Imam Abubakar, stating that despite a court-issued arrest warrant on February 7, 2024, they remain at large.
“They are in the UK. Until they are pinned down and arrested, we cannot bring them before the court. We are relying on INTERPOL member states to achieve this,” Odo told the court.
The prosecutor then requested an adjournment to allow INTERPOL to explore all available options for their arrest.
However, Justice Inyang Ekwo, dissatisfied with the slow progress, warned that he may strike out the case if the prosecution fails to produce the suspects in court at the next hearing. The case was adjourned until November 3, 2025.
How the $6.23 Million Was Stolen
According to documents filed in court under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/19/2014, the alleged theft occurred on January 23, 2023, and involved:
- Forgery of letters purportedly from former President Muhammadu Buhari and ex-SGF Boss Mustapha to deceive the CBN.
- A fraudulent claim that the funds were approved for foreign election observers.
- Collusion between CBN officials and outsiders to illegally divert the funds.
The Special Presidential Investigative Team led by Jim Obaze revealed that Ocheme personally received $3.73 million, while the remaining $2.5 million was shared among accomplices, including the Abubakars and others.
Forgery and Fraud Charges
The accused persons face multiple charges, including:
- Forgery of official documents to induce the CBN to release funds.
- Obtaining money by false pretense in violation of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act.
- Financial crimes punishable under Nigeria’s Miscellaneous Offences Act.
If convicted, they face severe penalties, including long-term imprisonment.
Next Steps
With INTERPOL now involved, Nigerian authorities are intensifying efforts to extradite the suspects from the UK. Meanwhile, Justice Ekwo’s warning signals mounting pressure on the prosecution to deliver results before the next hearing in November.
The case adds to the series of financial corruption scandals linked to Emefiele’s tenure at the CBN, raising fresh concerns over accountability and governance in Nigeria’s financial institutions.
