An operative of the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC), Alvan Gurumnaan, on Tuesday narrated to a Lagos State Particular Offences Court docket in Ikeja how former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, allegedly acquired $17.1 million by way of considered one of his aides, Monday Osazuwa.
Gurumnaan, the eighth prosecution witness within the ongoing trial of Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, claimed that the previous CBN Governor acquired the cash in a number of instalments over three years.
The EFCC investigator additionally alleged that Osazuwa was allegedly accumulating the cash from a Lagos-based businessman and handing it over to Emefiele till the week earlier than his suspension from workplace.
The anti-graft physique had arraigned Emefiele and one Herry Omoile earlier than the courtroom on a 26-count cost of accepting gratification, accepting presents by way of brokers, corruption, and fraudulent property receipt.
He was additionally accused of conferring corrupt benefit on his associates opposite to the Corrupt Practices Act 2000.
The defendants, nonetheless, pleaded not responsible to the cost.
Whereas being led in proof by the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Gurumnaan advised Justice Rahman Oshodi that Osazuwa, who carried out each private and official errands for Emefiele, revealed particulars concerning the $17,100,000 he collected on behalf of the previous CBN governor when he was interviewed on the EFCC’s workplace.
LEADERSHIP recalled that Osazuwa had earlier testified as the primary prosecution witness on this trial.
The witness testified that after the anti-graft company invited Osazuwa to query him, he advised investigators that he first met Emefiele when he was the Managing Director of Zenith Bank in 2014.
Gurumnaan additionally said that Osazuwa knowledgeable the fee he had run varied errands for Emefiele, together with a private errand the place Emefiele requested him to contact an individual named Mohit in London.
He additional claimed that between September 2020 and June 2023, Osazuwa acquired $17,100,000 in money on Emefiele’s behalf.
The witness said, “Upon receipt, Osazuwa delivered the cash to Emefiele’s residence in Ikoyi, passing it on to co-defendant Henry Omoile as instructed by Emefiele. Most of those transactions occurred on Fridays over the three-year interval.”
The witness additionally talked about that they interviewed the businessman, who confirmed that he gave Osazuwa $17,100,000 from 2020 to 2023 for supply to Emefiele.
The EFCC operatives stated that they collected his cellphone and carried out an evaluation, discovering WhatsApp messages that corroborated the data.
Gurumnaan, an EFCC operative, additionally knowledgeable Justice Oshodi that the fee had acquired a number of intelligence experiences relating to abuse of workplace and soliciting funds allegedly involving Emefiele.
Gurumnaan additionally revealed that that they had despatched a number of letters to the CBN and invited officers from varied departments for questioning.
The witness additional advised the choose that they had collected paperwork associated to the instances and investigated related personnel, though some have been delayed or launched on bail.
He famous that people who labored immediately with Emefiele, together with Osazuwa, John Adetola, and John Ogah, have been additionally invited for questioning.
Gurumnaan claimed that considered one of Emefiele’s aides, Eric Udoh, didn’t reply to summons issued in opposition to him and that regardless of efforts to find him, together with contacting Interpol and issuing a pink discover, he stays unaccounted for and is needed internationally.
Justice Oshodi has adjourned the case to October 7 for the continuation of the trial.
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