$4.5b, N2.8b fraud: Emefiele’s wife instructed me to move money from CBN to their companies’ accounts, witness tells court 

 

 

The Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja Lagos was on Tuesday told how the former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele, used his companies to clinch several contracts from CBN.

Emefiele is standing trial before Justice Rahman Oshodi over alleged abuse of office and allocation of $4.5 billon, N2.8 billion, while he was the CBN governor.

The embattled former CBN governor is facing 26 counts charge alongside his co-defendant, Henry Isioma Omoile, preferred against them by the Economic and Financial crimes commission (EFCC).

In continuation of Emefiele’s trial, the fifth prosecution witness Mrs Ifeoma Ogbonnaya who is the business relationship manager of Zenith Bank Plc, on Tuesday told

the court that she never had any direct dealings with the former  CBN governor but she was receiving instructions from his wife Mrs Margaret Emefiele to transfer cash flow from CBN into their private companies Zenith Bank account.

She said besides Mrs Emefiele, she also receives instructions from two other people Mr John Ogah and one Mr Opeyemi Oludimu, who works for the Emefiele but he is now late.

The witness who was led in evidence in chief by the EFCC prosecution counsel Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court how she received the instructions through  her official email, and other times through phone calls or WhatsApp.

She told Justice Oshodi that the companies that received the cash flow from CBN, were Limelight Multidimensional Ltd, Come Support Services Ltd and Ambswin Resources Ltd and Magofarm.

The witness testified that it was one Emmanuel that opened the accounts for Emefiele’s companies but that it was taken over by a new set of signatories in 2021.

She further testified that the two signatories to the accounts are Mr Stephen and Mrs Patricia but that all transfer instructions that came to that account was instructed by Mrs Emefiele.

“Whenever she sends us instructions or sends it through the other two people that works with them, I usually confirm from her.

Limelight manages the facilities of CBN, located at Alakija. “All transactions pertaining to power and fixing things that are not working was always done by the vendors.

” So far Answabian was basically used to provide diesel to their vendors.

” They have printing and minting company located at Ikoyi. For Kome, they were also facilities for the CBN guest house in Ikoyi.”

Ogbonnaya further told the court that between March 9, and 11, 2015, the account received cash flow from CBN, to the tune of N1, 792,593 and N18,869,400.

“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.

Earlier Justice Oshodi granted the application of Emefiele’s counsel Olalekan Ojo (SAN) to recall the first prosecution witness Monday Obaze for re-cross examination.

 The case continues July 10, for the continuation of trial.