Nigeria, Nov. 13 -- A prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday told the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja that former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele used associates to acquire properties worth billions of naira while in office.

The witness, Alvan Gurumnaan, said investigators traced several properties to Mr Emefiele and found that some of his associates received money and acquired assets on his behalf.

Mr Emefiele is standing trial jointly with his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, on 22 counts.

Nineteen of the charges, which aim at Mr Emefiele, include receiving gratification, corrupt demands and abuse of office involving transactions valued at $4.5 billion and...