Alleged abuse of office: ‘I collected $400,000 on behalf of Emefiele’ – Witness tells court
The 7th Prosecution witness, Mr John Adetola, testifying in the case against the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele has alleged that he collected the sum of $400,000 on behalf of Emefiele.
Adetola, who identified himself as an Executive Assistant to Emefiele, also disclosed how he handed over the money to his boss, Emefiele.
He gave the testimony on Thursday while answering questions from the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
He told the trial judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi that the functions of his office includes managing office correspondences, attending to visitors and any other tasks as assigned by his boss.
He said these duties gave him direct access to Emefiele.
On the $400,000, Adetola testified that he was summoned from Ekiti, his new posting place to go pick up the money.
“In 2018, I can’t remember the date, the personal assistant to the CBN Gov in Abuja, Mr Eric Odoh sent me a message on WhatsApp that I should go and collect $400,000 from John Ayoh, the former director of ICT Dept. and give same to the former CBN Governor when he came to Lagos.
“I went to the house of John Ayoh at Lekki in Lagos. He gave me an envelope and I came back to the office, I gave it to the former CBN Governor,” he said
He said he communicated with Emefiele, mentioning some of Emefiele’s family members.
“I communicate with the former CBN Governor through telephone, office line, email and verbal communication.
“I know Mr. George, I know Mr Okanta. They are Mr Emefiele’s brothers. I know his wife, Mrs Margaret Emefiele. I also know the second defendant, Henry Omoile, he lived in Emefiele’s house in Lagos,” he added.
Adetola also told the court that the EFCC accessed his phone which had some office documents and he was questioned on them, after which they printed the documents.
He identified some of the documents showing his communication with John Ayoh and Odoh, stressing that he endorsed the documents as being printed from his mobile phone.
The EFCC prosecutor, Mr Oyedepo thereafter sought the permission of the court to tender the bundle of documents.
The counsel to Emefiele, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olaleko Ojo, raised objections to the admissibility of the documents but withdrew his objections when the counsel insisted that it was merely for identification purposes.
Counsel representing Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Omoile, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adeyinka Kotoye, however, maintained his objections to the admissibility of the documents stating that the documents had no basis in law.
In his response, Oyedepo insisted that the documents were relevant and would prove essential ingredients of the offence.
He insisted on tendering it for the purpose of identification.
After considering all the submissions, Justice Oshodi admitted the documents and marked it as for the purpose of identification.
He adjourned the case till December 10 for the cross examination of the witness.
