*Says He Was Never Rewarded
*Case Adjourned To April 29
A DISPATCH rider with Central bank of Nigeria (CBN), Monday Osazuwa, on Friday, April 12, narrated to the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos how the former governor of the apex bank, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, instructed him on different occasions to collect the sum of $3million cash in tranches.
Led in evidence-in-chief by Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Osazuwa told the court that he had been a dispatch rider at Zenith Bank Plc since 2001 and knew Emefiele when he was the managing director, before he (Osazuwa) joining him at the CBN as a contract staff in 2014.
The witness, who testified before Justice Rahman Oshodi, said he was later appointed as a senior supervisor (full-time) in charge of recording and filing documents at the CBN Governor’s Office in Lagos, adding: “I was still working in the governor’s office when I was appointed a full-time staff member and we usually communicated through WhatsApp and email.
“I performed as a senior supervisor, recording and filing with other official roles. I could recall that in 2020 when he was outside Lagos, Emefiele called me and gave me a number, that a man had something I would collect from him, and that the man would give me the number of another person.
“When I got to the man’s office, I was given an envelope. I counted the money (in it) and was told to give it to my boss.”
He stated that Emefiele usually collected money alone whenever he was in Lagos and any time he was not around, Emefiele would tell him to give the money to the second defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoile.
Osazuwa noted that Emefiele sent him to MINL Limited when he was with Zenith Bank, adding: “This company is situated at Isolo. The first defendant (Emefiele) do send me to collect cheques from the company from Mr. Monday, and when I collect the cheque from Mr. Monday, I would give it back to Emefiele and he would lodge the money into the account of Dummies Oil and Gas.”
The witness further told the court that Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoile, lived in the residence of the former CBN governor and whenever he collected money for his boss, he would take it to his residence at Iru Close, Ikoyi, Lagos.
“Whenever I received the money and took it to my boss’ residence, Mr. Emefiele would tell me to give it to the second defendant (Isioma-Omoile) whenever he was not home.
“I did not keep a record of the transactions, because he instructed me that I should collect the money and bring it to his house. The highest amount I collected was $1million, all in cash. Some weeks later, the businessman also called me and I collected $850,000, $750,000 and $400,000 in cash in different tranches.
“I have never been rewarded, paid or given anything. I was doing it out of faithfulness, and he knows it, but he never for once said, ‘take this.”
Under cross-examination by the defence Counsel, Mr. Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, Osazuwa confirmed to the court that he had been working with the defendant since 2002.
Earlier, Justice Oshodi had granted Emefiele, who is facing trial over alleged abuse of office and fraud to the tune of $4.5billion and N2.8billion, bail in the sum of N50million, with two sureties in like sum, who must be gainfully employed and have three years of tax payment with the Lagos State Government, as well as show proper identification and be registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System.
The Judge said he was satisfied with the bail conditions of N1million earlier granted to Isioma-Omoil, who is standing trial in another charge before Justice Olufunke Sule-Hamzat of the Yaba High Court.
Justice Oshodi, however, said the bail documents must be transferred to the Special Offences Court and registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System.
Recall that the EFCC arraigned Emefiele on Monday, April 8, on 23 counts bordering on abuse of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand, receiving property fraudulently obtained and conferring corrupt advantage, Isioma-Omoile was arraigned on three counts bordering on acceptance of a gift by agents.
They both pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Oshodi also refused an oral application for adjournment, moved twice by Labi-Lawal to cross-examine the witness.
He adjourned the case until April 29, this year, for trial and hearing of an application for a closed section.
