John Adetola, the seventh prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has disclosed how he collected the sum of $400,000 on behalf of his former boss.

Adetola, who was the former personal assistant to Emefiele, disclosed this while giving evidence before the Special Offences Court sitting in the Ikeja area of Lagos State on Thursday, November 28, 2024.

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

The former CBN Governor is being prosecuted alongside his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Omoile, on his part, is facing a three-count charge bordering on unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents.

At the resumed hearing, Adetola, through his counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court that he managed office correspondences and visitors of Emefiele in Lagos.

He said his duty gave him direct access to Emefiele.

Adetola said in February 2023, he received an invite from EFCC and was interviewed on his relationship with Emefiele.

He said: “I made a voluntary statement at EFCC office.

“In 2018, Mr Eric Odoh, the personal assistant to the governor in Abuja sent a message to me that I should go and meet Mr John Ayoh, the former director of ICT department to collect $400,000 and give it to the governor.

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“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 further told the court that he informed the EFCC about the money during his interrogation.

The witness added that he communicated with Emefiele through telephone, email, office line, and verbal communication whenever he was around.

He also told the court that he knew one George and Okanta who were Emefiele’s younger brothers and the former CBN Governor’s wife, Margaret, by his relationship with his boss.

Adetola disclosed to the court that Omoile lived in Emefiele’s house in Lagos.

The witness also identified bundles of documents which were official communication between him and his former boss.

He equally identified documents showing his communication with Ayoh and Odoh.

The prosecution sought to tender the documents for identification purposes.

Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), did not object.

But Omoile’s counsel, Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN), objected and argued that the documents had no basis in law.

Kotoye said a document not tendered as an exhibit should not be tendered in court.

Oyedepo, in his response, argued that the documents were relevant and would prove essential ingredients of the offences.

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The presiding judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi, admitted documents for identification purposes after considering the parties’ submissions.

Justice Oshodi, thereafter, adjourned the case until December 10, 2024, for cross-examination of the witness.

The Star