The trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele saw a key moment on Monday as Monday Osazuwa, a dispatch rider and the case’s first prosecution witness, was recalled for cross-examination. This follow-up questioning is anticipated to shed more light on the details surrounding the charges faced by the former bank chief.
Under further cross-examination by Olalekan Ojo (SAN), representing former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, Monday Osazuwa admitted before Justice Rahman Oshodi at the Ikeja Special Offences Court that he kept no records of the funds he collected for Emefiele. His statement is likely to raise questions about the transparency and traceability of the transactions involved.
Osazuwa testified that he was under clear instructions from Emefiele not to document any of the funds he handled. This directive, he noted, led him to bypass any record-keeping, raising questions about the accountability of these financial exchanges.
Facing accusations of office abuse and large-scale money laundering, Godwin Emefiele is on trial for allegedly diverting funds totaling $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion. His case has sparked widespread interest due to the magnitude of the alleged financial mismanagement.
On April 8, 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission brought 23 charges against Godwin Emefiele, covering allegations of office abuse, receiving illicit gratifications, making corrupt demands, acquiring fraudulently obtained property, and giving corrupt advantages. The EFCC claims these actions compromised his role’s integrity.
The second defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoile, was arraigned on three counts bordering on acceptance of gifts by agents.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Emefiele was admitted to N50m bail with two sureties in like sum.
The court held that the sureties must be gainfully employed and have three years of tax payment with the Lagos State Government.
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Justice Oshodi allowed the second defendant to continue with the N1m bail earlier granted to him by Justice Olufunke Sule-Hamzat of the Yaba High Court.
At the commencement of the trial on April 12, 2024, Osazuwa, who was led in evidence in chief by the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), narrated to Justice Oshodi how Emefiele, on different occasions, instructed him to collect the sum of $3m cash in tranches.
He said, “The highest amount I collected was $1m, all in cash, and some weeks later, the businessman also called me, and I collected $850,000, $750,000, and $400,000 cash in tranches.
“I did not keep records of transactions because the instructions he (Emefiele) gave me was that I should collect the money and bring it to his house.
“Whenever I receive the money and take it to my boss’s residence, Mr Emefiele will tell me to give it to the second defendant (Omoile) whenever he is not at home.”
Osazuwa had testified that he knew Emefiele, who was his boss while in Zenith Bank before he later joined him in CBN.
The witness testified that he was a dispatch rider in Zenith Bank since 2001 before he joined CBN as a contract staff in 2014.
He also told the court that he was later appointed as a senior supervisor (full-time) in recording and filing documents while working in the governor’s office in Lagos.
“I perform as a senior supervisor, recording and filing with other official roles,” he said.
When questioned by defense lawyer Mr. Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, Osazuwa stated that Emefiele’s directives were relayed to him via the second defendant. He further disclosed that he routinely picked up cheques on behalf of Dummies Oil and Gas, hinting at his ongoing role in financial transactions for the company.
With four additional witnesses having taken the stand, the defense counsel urged the court to summon the first prosecution witness once more, seeking to clarify or challenge aspects of their earlier testimony in light of new information.
On behalf of the second defendant, Mr. Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN) notified the court of a formal motion on notice filed on May 6, 2024, indicating a forthcoming action within the legal proceedings.