By Abiola Olawale
Several witnesses have continued to appear before the Federal High Court in Ikeja, Lagos State, to narrate how the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele allegedly used his position to launder several sums of money.
The latest witness to appear before the court is a business relationship manager with Zenith Bank PLC, Ifeoma Ogbonnaya.
Ogbonnaya, the fifth witness brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), revealed how Emefiele allegedly moved funds from the CBN through Zenith Bank to some accounts linked to his wife, Mrs Margaret Emefiele.
Led in evidence by EFCC’s Prosecutor (SAN) Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness told the presiding Judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi that she never had any dealings with the former CBN governor but testified that several transfers running into billions from the apex bank were allegedly made into private companies linked to Mrs Emefiele.
According to her, the private companies owned by Mrs Emefiele that allegedly received the cash flow from CBN are; Limelight Multidimensional Services Ltd, Comec Support Services Ltd, Andswin Resources Solution Ltd, and Magofarm.
The witness also testified that the two signatories to the accounts are one Mr Stephen and Mrs Patricia but that all transfer instructions were authorised by Mrs Emefiele.
She said apart from Mrs Emefiele she also receives instructions from two other people – Mr John Ogah and one Mr Opeyemi Oludimu – who works for Emefiele but is now late.
She said: “Mrs Margaret Emefiele, the ex-CBN governor’s wife is the direct beneficiary of the accounts. The companies send transfer instructions to my email and all transactions made in the accounts were confirmed by Mrs Emefiele before they were processed.
“Whenever she sends transfer instructions directly to my official email address with Zenith Bank or sends it through two other persons that work with them, I usually confirm from her.
“Andswin was used to provide diesel to their vendors. Magofarms deals with piggery and poultry. For Comec, they also had facilities for the CBN guest house in Ikoyi.”
Ogbonnaya also gave an account of how the account received the cash flows.
She continued: “On February 22, 2021, there was a cash flow of N42,988,758.75 from CBN, on July 21, 2022, there was a cash flow of N37,279,964.70. On October 21, 2022, there was a credit flow of N44,641,077.60, on May 10, 2023, there was a cash flow of N93,100,000, from CBN, among others,” the witness said.
The New Diplomat recalls that this latest development came after a dispatch rider, Monday Osazuwa, had narrated how he allegedly picked up over $3m cash in tranches for Emefiele.
Osazuwa testified that Emefiele allegedly contacted him to pick up $1m, $850,000, $750,000, and $400,000 cash in tranches, respectively.
It would be recalled also that Emefiele has been facing stormy waters and is being tried for alleged abuse of office and fraud to the tune of $4.5bn and N2.8bn.
EFCC slammed a 26-count charges against Emefiele and one of his allies, Omole.
The charge, marked ID/23787c/2024, dated April 3, 2024, was filed by Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
EFCC alleged that Emefiele committed abuse of office between 2022 and 2023, in Lagos, of abuse of office.
Emefiele is facing trial on counts bordering on accepting gratification, accepting gifts through agents, corruption, receipt of property fraudulently obtained, and conferring corrupt advantage on his associates contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act of 2000.
