By Akin Kuponiyi
In the ongoing fraud trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, a prosecution witness testified on Monday that there is no documented evidence of the alleged $400,000 transaction involving the ex-CBN chief.
John Adetola, who served as an executive assistant to Emefiele, appeared before the Lagos Special Offences Court in Ikeja as the seventh prosecution witness.
He stated under oath that he neither recorded the delivery of the $400,000 nor provided WhatsApp messages or call logs to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to substantiate the claim.
Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are currently facing a 19-count charge of receiving gratification and corrupt enrichment amounting to $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion, brought against them by the EFCC.
Adetola previously testified that in 2018, he received a WhatsApp message from one Eric Odoh instructing him to collect $400,000 from John Ayoh, the former CBN Director of Information Technology, and deliver the cash to Emefiele in Lagos.
He confirmed that he carried out this instruction, collecting an envelope containing the money from Ayoh’s residence in Lekki and handing it over to the former governor.
During cross-examination by Emefiele’s lead counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), Adetola admitted he was not being prosecuted for his role in the transaction and denied any deal with the EFCC for immunity in exchange for his testimony.
He also conceded that his EFCC statement did not mention any communication with Emefiele regarding the cash delivery.
Adetola recounted his time in EFCC custody, where he was interrogated for 11 days over the alleged crimes.
He reiterated that his extrajudicial statement contained no references to WhatsApp or phone conversations with Emefiele about the $400,000 transaction.
He also denied any arrangement with the EFCC to testify against the former governor.
Further, Adetola revealed that the EFCC never arranged for him to confront either Emefiele or John Ayoh in person regarding the money.
When asked why he did not document the transaction, he responded, “I did not see any need for it.”
The witness holds a Higher National Diploma in Secretarial Studies and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management.
He explained that he managed Emefiele’s secretariat and reported directly to the former CBN governor.
Under additional cross-examination by counsel to the second defendant, Yinka Kotoye (SAN), Adetola admitted he had no dealings with Omoile in relation to his testimony.
Following re-examination by EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the witness maintained his stance on the absence of documentation for the alleged $400,000.
At the conclusion of proceedings, Justice Rahman Oshodi discharged the witness and adjourned the trial to Tuesday for continuation.
