Godwin Emefiele
‘How I collected $400,000 for Emefiele as his aide’
Mr John Adetola, a former Personal Assistant (PA) to Godwin Emefiele, a former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has narrated how he collected the sum of $400,000 on behalf of his former boss.
Adetola revealed this while giving evidence before an Ikeja Special Offences Court on Thursday as the seventh prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Emefiele over alleged abuse and $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud, while in office.
The former CBN Governor is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside his co-defendant, Henry Omoile.
Omoile, on his part, is facing three-count charge bordering on unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents.
At the resumed hearing, Adetola, through his counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court that he managed office correspondences and visitors of the governor in Lagos.
He said his duty gave him direct access to Emefiele.
Adetola said sometime in February 2023, he received an invite from EFCC and was interviewed on his relationship with Emefiele.
He said, “I made a voluntary statement at EFCC office.
“In 2018, Mr Eric Odoh, the personal assistant to the governor in Abuja, sent a message to me that I should go and meet Mr John Ayoh, the former director of ICT department to collect $400,000 and give it to the governor.
“I went to Mr Ayoh’s house in Lekki and he gave me the envelope.
READ ALSO:
“I came back to the office and gave the envelope to the governor.”
Adetola further told the court that he informed EFCC about the money during his interrogation.
The witness, also confirmed that he communicated with Emefiele through telephone, email, office line and verbal communication whenever he was around.
He also confirmed to the court that he knew one George and Okanta who were Emefiele’s younger brothers and the governor’s wife, Margaret, by virtue of his relationship with his boss.
Adetola also confirmed to the court that Omoile (his co-defendant) lived in Emefiele’s house in Lagos.
The witness also identified bundles of documents which were official communication between him and the ex-governor.
He also identified documents showing his communication with Ayoh (former director of ICT department) and Odoh (personal assistant to the governor in Abuja).
The prosecution sought to tender the bundles of documents for identification purpose.
Emefiele’s counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN) did not object.
But Omoile’s counsel, Mr Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN), objected and argued that the documents had no basis in law.
According to Kotoye, a document not tendered as an exhibit, should not be tendered at all.
Oyedepo, in his response, argued that the documents were relevant and would prove essential ingredients of the offences.
“The documents are for the purpose of identification,” he said.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, admitted the bundles of documents for identification purpose, after considering the parties submissions.
Oshodi adjourned the case until Dec. 10 for cross-examination of the witness.
Exchange rate ends 2024 at N1,535/$1, marking a 40.9% depreciation The exchange rate between the…
Lagos govt clears traders from rail tracks at Bolade, Oshodi The Lagos State Government has removed…
Four countries that won’t celebrate New Year In less than 12 hours, countries around the…
Social media abuzz over Fayose claim of N50m donation to VeryDarkMan's NGO Social media was…
Mexico recovers 31 bodies from secret graves Mexican authorities said they recovered a total of…
FCT police recover huge firearms from suspect after shooting incident Police operatives in Federal Capital Territory,…