Former CBN secretary testifies at Emefiele’s trial for abuse of office

A former Secretary at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr John Ogah, on Monday testified in the trial of former CBN Gov. Godwin Emefiele for fraud and abuse of office.

Emefiele us charged before an Ikeja Special Offences Court.

He is standing trial for abuse of office and $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud while in office.

He is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is standing trial on three counts bordering on unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents.

Ogah was led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).

He said that he had worked at Zenith Bank Plc., as Secretary to Emefiele when he was the Managing Director of Zenith Bank.

The witness told the court that he later joined CBN as Secretary in charge of administration to the governor.

He said he was responsible for receiving all internal and external mails for the governor of CBN and also directed his attention to them.

Ogah said: “I worked in the CBN governor’s office and took instructions from CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

“I was asked to give a document to the account officer of three companies, namely; Limelight, Comec and Answin Resources Ltd. while working for the governor.

“I scanned the document and sent it to the account officer of the three companies through his official email.”

Justice Rahman Oshodi adjourned the case until Oct. 30 for continuation of trial.

Earlier, the first prosecution witness, Mr Monday Osazuwa was recalled for cross-examination by Emefiele’s counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN).

Osazuwa, a dispatch rider at CBN, had told the court that he did not keep record of money he collected on behalf of Emefiele while he was in office.

It was reported that Osazuwa had, on April 12, testified before the court how Emefiele, on different occasions, directed him to collect millions of dollars in cash and in tranches, on his behalf.

The court had, on May 18, granted the request of defence to recall Osazuwa, following a motion on notice moved by Mr Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN), counsel to Emefiele’s co-defendant.

The witness told the court that he did not keep any records of money he collected for Emefiele.

According to Osazuwa, the former governor instructed him not to keep any record of money he collected on his behalf.

Ojo had asked if the witness provided any documents to EFCC showing where he recorded money he collected for Emefiele,

Ojo also asked if he knew the importance of keeping record of financial transactions.

The witness replied that he did not keep any record.

The witness said: “There is no document produced.

“The instructions given to me by the first defendant was that I should not write anything down.

“I do not have document by either the first or second defendant acknowledging receipt of money.

“I did not produce any record, I obeyed the instruction.”