An Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee’s witness, John Adetola, on Thursday, narrated to the Lagos Particular Offences Court docket in Ikeja how he handed over $400,000 to the embattled former Governor of the Central Financial institution of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
Adetola, an government assistant to the previous CBN Governor, made the disclosure whereas testifying earlier than Justice Rahman Oshodi.
The embattled Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are going through trial on 26 counts, bordering on abuse of workplace alleged $4.5bn and N2.8bn fraud.
Adetola, who’s the seventh prosecution witness, whereas being led in proof by the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), stated he was summoned from Ekiti, his new posting place.
He stated: “In 2018, I can’t keep in mind the date, Mr. Eric Odoh despatched me a message on WhatsApp that I ought to go and gather the sum of $400,000 from John Ayoh and provides it to the previous CBN Governor when he got here to Lagos.
“I went to the home of John Ayoh at Lekki in Lagos. He gave me an envelope and I got here again to the workplace, and I gave it to the previous CBN Governor.”
The witness advised the court docket that he was the Government Assistant to the previous CBN Governor, and he managed workplace correspondences, attended to guests, and carried out different duties as assigned to his boss.
“I joined the CBN in June 2014, however initially, I used to be with Veritas Registrars, previously Zenith Registrars. I joined the corporate in 2007.”
He additionally said that he knew the previous CBN Governor because the Managing Director of Zenith Financial institution earlier than he began working on the CBN.
Requested to say his technique of communication with Emefiele, the witness replied, “I talk with the previous CBN Governor by means of phone, workplace line, e mail, and verbal communication.”
Requested to call a few of Emefiele’s members of the family, the witness stated, “I do know Mr. George, I do know Mr Okanta. They’re Mr Emefiele’s brothers. I do know his spouse, Mrs Margaret Emefiele. I do know the second defendant, Henry Omoile.”
The witness additionally gave an account of how he was invited by the EFCC.
“In February 2023, I obtained an invite from the EFCC to come back to their workplace. They interviewed me. I travelled to the EFCC workplace in Lagos and made voluntary statements.”
When requested by the prosecutor if in the middle of discharging his duties to the previous CBN Governor, he had any interplay with John Ayoh.
“Sure, we work collectively; John Ayoh was the previous Director of the ICT,” the witness stated.
Adetola additionally knowledgeable the court docket that his cellphone was assessed by the EFCC and he was questioned based mostly on some workplace paperwork that have been seen which have been printed out.
“In 2018, I can’t keep in mind the date, Mr Eric despatched me a message on WhatsApp that I ought to go gather $400,000 from John Ayoh and provides it to the previous CBN Governor when he involves Lagos.
“I went to the home of John Ayoh at Lekki in Lagos State; he gave me an envelope, and I got here again to the workplace; I gave it to the previous CBN Governor,” the witness stated.
An try by the prosecution to tender the paperwork as reveals was, nevertheless, resisted by the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN) and Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN).
However Justice Oshodi, in a bench ruling, dismissed the objection by the defence and admitted as reveals “a mix of official communication between the witness and Emefiele through Whatsapp, between the witness and John Ogah and Eric Odoh.”
Additional listening to within the matter was adjourned until December 10.