At the resumed hearing of the on-going trial of former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Wednesday October 30, 2024, a prosecution witness, Mr. John Ogah, shocked an Ikeja Special Offences Court presided over by Justice Hakeem Oshodi that none of the documents produced in court linked Emefiele and his wife to three companies alleged to have been used in siphoning money for them.
Ogah who was a former secretary to Emefiele spoke under cross-examination by Mr. Olalekan Ojo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, counsel to the former CBN governor.
He said there was nothing in the documents he tendered while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that linked Emefiele and his wife to the three companies – Limelight, Comec and Answin Resources Limited.
Mr. Ogah, the 6th Prosecution Witness, said that he did not produce to the EFCC any share beneficial documents linking either Mrs. Margaret Emefiele or her husband with the three companies allegedly used for money laundering.
His words, in reaction to the cross-examination by Mr. Ojo, SAN: “I have never come across any document relating to beneficial ownership of the three companies.
“In the course of my interaction with EFCC, I did not see any document of beneficial owner of Emefiele in the three companies. Also, operatives of EFCC did not produce any document linking Emefiele to the companies.
“Concerning Mrs. Margaret Emefiele, I did not produce any share beneficial documents linking her to the three companies, neither did the operatives of EFCC produce any document relating to the beneficial ownership of the three companies.
“I have never come across any document relating to beneficial ownership of the three companies.”
Ogah further told the court that it was one Opeyemi Olujimi, former accountant of the companies that told him that Mrs. Emefiele owned the companies.
The witness said he was aware that at all times when he was in CBN, he was a public servant, and at the same time engaged in business either alone or in partnership with somebody.
Ogah said he could not remember he engaged in partnership with anybody, except his wife who asked him to buy clothes.
“I can’t remember telling EFCC that I engaged in any business while I was in CBN. I knew that I was not supposed to be, but some are. These are private business with my wife,” he said.
Confronted with his was extra-judicial statements made on February 26, 2024 which he read to the hearing of the court, the witness said: “While working as a public officer at CBN I was also in business of forex transaction with Eze. I was sharing in the gains with Eze in forex transaction. I was referring to Eze anybody who needed forex.
“I also facilitated that forex transaction carried out with Eze. This happened because I was in CBN.
“I have not come in contact that Emefiele is the Director or shareholder in Limelight, Commet or Answin, not a signatory. Neither have I come in contact that Emefiele held shareholder meetings.
“I have never come across any document showing Mrs, Margret Emefiele is a director or participated in the minutes of board of directors of the three companies.
“I was detained by EFCC for 11 days in connection with this case.”
When asked what were the allegation made against him, Ogah said:
“I started working as Secretary with Emefiele as far back as 31 years (1993) and have seen his signature and familiar with it. But on these documents I can’t identify his signature. It’s not true that all those documents that I handed over to courts were given to me by Emefiele, but by Eze”
Emefiele is standing trial for alleged abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.
The EFCC had, on 8 April, arraigned the ex-CBN governor on 23 counts bordering on abuse of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand, receiving property fraudulently obtained, and conferring corrupt advantage.
Mr. Henry Omoile (Second defendant in the case) was arraigned on three counts bordering on acceptance of gifts by agents.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Emefiele was admitted to N50 million bail with two sureties in like sum.
Justice Oshodi consequently adjourned further hearing to November 28, 2024.