Godwin Emefiele
By Victory Oghene
A banker, Mrs Ifeoma Ogbonaya, on Tuesday told to the court how the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, abused his office by awarding CBN contracts to his personal firms.
Emefiele is standing trial, alongside one Henry Omoile, before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja.
In the 26 counts filed against him, Emefiele was accused of abuse of office and illegal allocation of $4.5bn, N2.8bn while he was CBN governor.
Ogbonna, who is the fifth prosecution witness, told the court on Tuesday that she never had any dealings with the ex-CBN governor but that she was receiving instructions from his wife, Mrs Margaret Emefiele, to transfer cash from CBN into their private company’s account.
She said apart from Mrs Emefiele she also received instructions from two other persons, Mr John Ogah and Mr Opeyemi Oludimu, who worked for the Emefiele.
The witness, who was led in evidence by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court how she received the instructions via 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, Kome Support Services Ltd; Ansbaswin Resources Ltd; and Mago Farm.
The witness testified that it was one Emmanuel who opened the accounts for Emefiele’s companies but that it was taken over by a new set of signatories in 2021.
She said the two signatories to the accounts are Mr Stephen and Mrs Patricia but that all transfer instructions that came to that account were instructed by Mrs Emefiele.
“Whenever she sent us instructions or sent it through the other two people who worked with them, I usually confirmed from her. All the transfers that came into that account were instructed by Madam Margaret Emefiele.
“Limelight manages the facilities of the CBN, located at Alakija. All transactions pertaining to power and fixing things that are not working were always done by the vendors.
“So far, Answabian was basically used to provide diesel to their vendors.
“They have a printing and minting company located at Ikoyi. For Kome, there were also facilities for the CBN guest house in Ikoyi.”
Ogbonna 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 Emefiele’s request to recall the first prosecution witness Monday Osazuwa, to enable the defence to cross-examine him afresh.
However, the case was adjourned till July 10 for the continuation of trial.
