Mr. John Adetola, the 7th prosecution witness, in the ongoing trial of Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has narrated how he collected the sum of $400,000 bribe on behalf of the apex bank helmsman.
Adetola who was Emefiele’s personal assistant disclosed this while giving evidence before an Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos.
Emefiele is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged abuse of office and $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion frauds while in office.
Henry Omoile, his co-defendant, is facing a three-count charge bordering on unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Adetola, through his counsel, 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 the EFCC and was interviewed on his relationship with Emefiele.
His words: “I made a voluntary statement at the 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.
“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 purposes.
Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), did not object.
But Omoile’s counsel, 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 purposes, after considering the parties’ submissions.
Oshodi adjourned the case until December 10 and 12, 2024 for cross-examination of the witness.
