By Olalekan Abdullah
Mr John Adetola, personal assistant to former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele on Thursday narrated how he collected $400,000 (N674.46 million) on behalf of the ex-governor.
Adetola, the seventh prosecution witness, in the ongoing trial of Emefiele, made the revelation on Thursday while giving evidence before an Ikeja Special Offences Court.
Justice Rahman Oshodi is presiding over the case.
TheNewsZenith reports that Emefiele is standing trial for alleged abuse of office and $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud, while in office.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting him, alongside his co-defendant, Henry Omoile.
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, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court that he managed office correspondences and visitors of the ex-CBN governor in Lagos.
The witness said his duty gave him direct access to Emefiele.
He narrated that sometime in February 2023, he received an invite from EFCC and was interviewed on his relationship with Emefiele.
“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 to me that I should 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 told the Court.
The witness said he informed EFCC about the money during his interrogation.
He also confirmed that he communicated with Emefiele through telephone, email, office line and verbal communication whenever he was around.
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The former PA confirmed to the court that he knew George and Okanta who were Emefiele’s younger brothers.
He also affirmed that he knew the governor’s wife, Margaret, under his relationship with his boss.
Adetola also confirmed to the court that Omoile (his co-defendant) lived in Emefiele’s house in Lagos.
The witness also identified bundles of documents which were official communication between him and the ex-governor.
He identified documents showing his communication with Ayoh (former director of the ICT department) and Odoh (personal assistant to the governor in Abuja).
The prosecution sought to tender the bundles of documents for identification purposes.
Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), counsel to Emefiele, did not object.
However, Mr Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN), Counsel to Omoile, objected, arguing that the documents had no basis in law.
According to Kotoye, a document that was not tendered as an exhibit, should not be tendered at all.
Responding to the objection, Oyedepo, argued that the documents were relevant to the case. He said the documents would prove essential ingredients of the offences.
“The documents are for identification,” he said.
Oshodi admitted the documents for identification purposes, after considering the parties’ submissions.
He adjourned the case until Dec. 10 for cross-examination of the witness.
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