Emefiele allowed to go home after meeting bail conditions

Emefiele released after meeting bail conditions, trial commences

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, was on Friday released after meeting his bail conditions.

He was brought to the Lagos High Court in Ikeja by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and left for his home after the court proceedings.

Justice Rahman Oshodi admitted him to bail in the sum of N50m with two sureties in like sum.

The trial however started after the court had granted him bail, with the EFCC calling its first witness.

The witness, Monday Osazuwa of the CBN told the court how Emefiele on different occasions, directed him to collect the sum of $3 million cash in tranches.

Led-in-evidence by the prosecution counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness narrated how he served as a dispatch rider in Zenith Bank, after which he joined the apex bank as well as the many errands he ran for the former CBN governor.

He said, “I joined the CBN in 2014 as a contract staff and became staff in 2015. I knew the first defendant when he was a Deputy Director of Zenith Bank, and he later became Director. I had worked with him since then.

“I was still working in the governor’s office while I was appointed as a full staff, and we usually communicated through WhatsApp and rmails. I performed as a senior supervisor, recording and filing with other official roles.”

He recalled in 2020, the first defendant sent him on errand.

“When he called me, he directed that I should call a businessman who gave me $1 million dollars on his behalf. Some weeks later, the first defendant also called me that I should meet the man and he gave me $850,000, $750,000 and $400,000 cash in tranches.”

Osazuwa also told the court that he knew Dumies Oil and Gas Limited while he was in Zenith Bank PlC.

He said the former CBN governor, who was also the MD of the company, always sent him to collect cheques from one Mr Monday.

He said he always logged the money in the account of Dumies on the order of Emefiele.

When he was asked where the second defendant resides, he said Henry Isioma Omoile lived in the residence of the former CBN governor.

Osazuwa said, “Whenever I receive the money and take it to the residence of Mr Emefiele. He always tells me to give it to the second defendant whenever he was not at home.

“I did not keep record of transactions because the instruction he gave me was that I should collect the money and bring the money to his house. The highest amount I collected is $1 million all in cash.

“He has never for one day said take this. I have never been rewarded, paid or given anything because I am doing it out of faithfulness and he knows I am faithful to him.”