‘How I collected $400K on Emefiele’s behalf,’ EFCC witness tells court

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Mr. John Adetola, on Thursday, told the Lagos Special Offences Court, Ikeja, how he collected the sum of $400,000 on behalf of the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Adetola, who was a former personal assistant to Emefiele, spoke while giving evidence in the latter’s ongoing trial for alleged corruption.

The EFCC arraigned the former CBN governor alongside one Henry Omoile for alleged abuse of office and $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud while in office.

Omoile is also standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents.

At the resumed hearing, Adetola, through the EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court that he managed office correspondences and visitors of the ex-CBN governor in Lagos.

He said his duty gave him direct access to Emefiele.

The witness said sometime in February 2023, he received an invitation from EFCC and was interviewed on his relationship with Emefiele.

READ ALSO: Court orders permanent forfeiture of Emefiele’s $2.045m, seven properties

He said: “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 that I should go and meet Mr. John Ayoh, the former director of the 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 said he informed EFCC about the money during his interrogation.

The witness also confirmed that he communicated with Emefiele through telephone, email, office line, and verbally whenever he was around.

Justice Rahman Oshodi adjourned the case till December 10 for cross-examination of the witness.

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