Godwin Emefiele

Akin kuponiyi

A prosecution witness, John Adetola, in the ongoing fraud trial of former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria  Godwin Emefiele, yesterday told the Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja that he did not document the alleged delivery of $400,000 to the former CBN boss.

Adetola, the seventh prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the embattled ex-CBN boss, testified before the presiding Judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi. Adetola said he served as Emefiele’s executive assistant, and he neither recorded the transaction nor provided any WhatsApp messages or call logs to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to support his claim.

Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are facing a 19-count charge bordering on receiving gratification and corrupt enrichment.

Of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion, preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Earlier, Adetola had told the court that he received a WhatsApp message in 2018 from Eric Odoh, instructing him to collect $400,000 from the former CBN director of Information Technology, Mr John Ayoh, and deliver it to Emefiele in Lagos.

Adetola, an executive assistant to the former CBN Governor, had previously testified that he delivered $400,000 to Emefiele.

During cross-examination by Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), Adetola confirmed that he was not being prosecuted for his role in the transaction and had not struck any deal with the EFCC in exchange for his freedom.

He also admitted that his statement to the EFCC did not mention any communication with Emefiele about the alleged cash delivery.

Adetola narrated that in 2018, Mr. Eric Odoh sent him a WhatsApp message instructing him to collect the sum from John Ayoh and hand it over to Emefiele when he arrived in Lagos.

“In 2018, I can’t remember the date, Mr. Eric Odoh sent me a WhatsApp message that I should collect $400,000 from John Ayoh and give it to the former CBN Governor when he came to Lagos. I went to Ayoh’s house in Lekki, collected an envelope, and gave it to the Governor,” Adetola said.

Asked why he didn’t record the transaction or obtain any proof of delivery, Adetola responded, “I did not see any need for it.”

He confirmed he spent 11 days in EFCC custody, during which he was interrogated over the alleged financial crimes.

He also confirmed that in his extrajudicial statement made while in EFCC custody, he did not mention any WhatsApp or telephone conversation with Emefiele regarding the $400,000.

Adetola denied any agreement with the EFCC to testify against Emefiele in exchange for immunity from prosecution.

He added that the EFCC confronted him with WhatsApp printouts relating to the alleged money.

Adetola holds a Higher National Diploma in Secretarial Studies and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management. He told the court he managed the Governor’s secretariat and reported directly to Emefiele.

Adetola further told the court that the EFCC never brought him face-to-face with either the first defendant or John Ayoh regarding the $400,000 transaction.

Under further cross-examination by Yinka Kotoye (SAN), counsel to the second defendant, Adetola admitted he had no dealings with Omoile in connection with his testimony.

During re-examination by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), when asked why he did not document the $400,000 he allegedly collected on Emefiele’s behalf, Adetola responded: “I did not see any need for it.”

At this stage, Justice Oshodi discharged the witness and adjourned the matter till tomorrow (Tuesday) for the continuation of the trial.