The investigation into the alleged fraudulent disbursement of $6.2 million by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has intensified with the indictment of Odoh Eric Ocheme, former personal assistant to Godwin Emefiele, past CBN governor.
The funds were purportedly intended for the payment of foreign election observers. The signature of Boss Mustapha, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), was also said to have been forged in the process.
The special investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu to probe the CBN under Godwin Emefiele had requested Interpol to place three suspects on its watchlist in connection with the payment. The suspects were identified as Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar, and Odoh Eric Ocheme.
Former CBN Governor Emefiele has also been indicted in the alleged fraudulent payment and is currently facing a 20-count criminal charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Ocheme, an associate of Emefiele, is among those under investigation for alleged fraud in the apex bank.
The EFCC has recently declared Ocheme, Margaret (Emefiele’s wife), Anita Joy Omoile, and Jonathan Omoile wanted for alleged money laundering, alleging that they colluded with the former CBN governor to divert significant sums from the federal government’s coffers.
Investigations have revealed that Ocheme, born on May 16, 1981, in Markudi, Benue state, is a director of Ricrem Limited and Beustone Nigeria Limited. Both companies are currently inactive on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) website due to failure to file annual returns.
Ocheme, who served as Emefiele’s personal assistant, married Chinenyeze Ozioma Okoro in a lavish ceremony in Owerri, Imo state, in February 2021.
The ceremony was chaired by Orji Kalu, former Abia state governor. Other dignitaries at the event were Alex Otti, governor of Abia; Uche Ogah, former minister of mines and steel development; and Jones Onyereri, a former member of the house of representatives.
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