Emefiele: Contractor speaks on how he paid $600,000 bribe to CBN director

In a dramatic revelation before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja, a contractor with the Central Bank of Nigeria testified on Friday that he paid a $600,000 bribe to a former CBN director to secure payment for a contract.

Victor Onyejiuwa, Managing Director of Resource Computer Limited, stated that while executing contracts for the CBN, Punch reported on Saturday.

He said he had no direct dealings with former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele. Instead, Onyejiuwa alleged that the bribe was paid to John Ayoh, the former CBN Director of Information Technology.

Onyejiuwa explained that all communications with Ayoh were conducted via WhatsApp. He testified that the first installment of $400,000 was paid in Lagos, and the remaining $200,000 was delivered in Abuja.

He noted that there was no formal authorization from CBN management to pay the bribe.

During cross-examination by Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, Onyejiuwa confirmed that Ayoh signed both the contract award and its completion. He detailed that his first contract with the CBN was valued at N1.3 billion, and the second at $2.1 million.

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Onyejiuwa continued to work with the CBN until 2019, after Ayoh’s departure, and stated that no bribes were demanded for subsequent contracts executed under Emefiele’s tenure as governor.

“I did a new contract with the CBN, and no bribe was demanded and the payment for the contract was made in due time,” Onyejiuwa testified.

He admitted under cross-examination that he never sought confirmation from any CBN deputy governors regarding Ayoh’s authority to collect the bribe, nor did he have any direct instructions from Emefiele.

Onyejiuwa also revealed that he did not present any letter demanding a bribe to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court heard that the $600,000 was delivered directly to Ayoh in his office, and signed off by an IT department official after payment.

Former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele and co-defendant Henry Omoile face 26 counts related to abuse of office and alleged fraud totaling $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion. Both have pleaded not guilty.

On the previous hearing date, Onyejiuwa told Justice Rahman Oshodi that he was coerced into paying $600,000 before his contract payment was approved. He recounted a senior CBN official pressuring him in 2017, stating that payment would be withheld unless the bribe was paid. Following this, Onyejiuwa managed to gather $400,000 and $200,000, respectively, which facilitated the contract payment within weeks.

The trial is set to continue on July 9 and 10.

Emefiele: Contractor speaks on how he paid $600,000 bribe to CBN director

Minister withdraws orphan-marriage suit against Niger Assembly Speaker

The Minister of Women Affairs , Uju Kennedy -Ohanenye, has withdrawn a suit she earlier filed against the speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, following his decision to marry off 100 orphans from his constituency.

Speaking with reporters, the minister noted that the ministry in collaboration with the speaker of the Niger state assembly, and traditional rulers from the state, are currently investigating the ages of the girls to ascertain if they are within the stipulated age for marriage.

According to her, the Ministry of Women Affairs will, for now, focus on empowering girls, as well as others affected by insecurity in the state.

Last week, the speaker, Sarkindaji, announced plans to marry off 100 orphans in his constituency as part of measures to alleviate their sufferings.

While the development had sparked national outrages, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), urged the minister to withdraw the litigation and petition she wrote to the Inspector General of Police.

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The Chairman, Kano State Chapter of MURIC, Malam Hassan Indabawa, who made the call on Thursday night in a statement, urged Nigerians to learn to respect one another’s culture and traditions.

“We found the harsh and hasty decision taken by the Honourable Minister for Women Affairs over a matter that is entirely beyond the scope of her ministry.

“The minister’s attempt at media demonisation of marrying off of 100 poor and orphaned girls, who were largely traumatised for losing both parents to brutal and bloody banditry and insurgency, exposed her ignorance to the culture and traditions of the Muslim North.

“This elaborate media blitz, over the matter, MURIC observed, was deliberately done to sway public opinion against the marriage institution, and an attempt to vilify Sarkin-Daji, after demonstrating his genuine concern for the needs of members of his constituency,” Indabawa said.

The marriage arrangement in question is slated to take place on May 24, 2024.

Minister withdraws orphan-marriage suit against Niger Assembly Speaker