10th July, 2024
By Akin Kuponiyi
The trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele continued on Wednesday with EFCC’s 5th prosecution witness testifying that neither the ex-CBN governor nor his wife was a beneficiary of the inflow of money paid into three companies’ accounts mentioned before the court.
The witness, Mrs Ifeoma Ogbonnaya, who is also a manager at Zenith Bank under cross examination on Wednesday by Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), also inform the court that the bank did not obtain the documents, board resolution or any document portraying Emefiele and his wife as beneficial owner of the accounts of the companies-Limelight, Comec and Answin Limited.
She confirmed that none of them was named in the account opening mandate, to sign banking instructions on the accounts, adding that one Madam Augustina was the signatory and not Mrs Emefiele.
Ogbonnaya said the customer’s instructions to honour transactions on any of the accounts did not emanate from the Emefieles, as the instructions were always in writing.
She was asked to confirm that the instructions the banks must honour were those given by the account holders and none other.
She was given the account opening package of Limelight Limited to confirm the signatories of the company.
Ogbonnaya confirmed that the signatories were Stephen Ogwa and Patricia Esan, while the shareholders of Limelight Limited were Omoile Augustina Onuwa, Oriekose Augustina and Ibrahim Taofeek as the document from CAC confirmed.
She added that the Emefieles were not shareholders neither were they directors of the companies, reiterating that she never attended any board or management meetings of these companies, apart from managing them.
Having looked through the account opening package, Ogbonnaya confirmed that there was no document that showed the names of Margaret Emefiele and Godwin Emefiele or link them to the companies because they were not involved in any authorisation of the transactions.
She said all the money paid into the accounts of the companies by the CBN were not authorized by Emefiele.
The presiding judge, Abdulraham Oshodi adjourned the case till October 28, 30 and 31, 2024 for continuation of trial.
