How I deposited billions in cash for Emefiele – Ex-banker

By Tolulope Oke

A former Zenith Bank employee, Richard Agulu, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja how he allegedly processed cash deposits running into billions of naira for former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Agulu testified as the third prosecution witness in the alleged ₦7.8bn fraud case filed against Emefiele by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

While being cross-examined by defence counsel, Mathew Burkaa, SAN, the witness said he received large cash sums from Eric Ocheme, identified in court as Emefiele’s personal assistant.

He said the money was either paid into the accounts of Ifeabigo Integrated Services and Kelvito Integrated Services or kept in the bank’s vault.

According to Agulu, the instructions for the transactions were passed to him through telephone conversations with Ocheme.

He told the court that the directives allegedly came from Emefiele.

“For every transaction, I followed normal banking procedures. I was given a verbal waiver by my superiors to attend to the defendant’s transactions,” the witness said.

Agulu, however, refused to name the bank officials who allegedly gave him the verbal approval when pressed during cross-examination.

He maintained that he acted on instructions and approvals from his superiors while carrying out the transactions.

Emefiele is standing trial before Justice Yusuf Halilu on charges bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, forgery, unlawful possession of property and conferring corrupt advantage.

The EFCC alleged that large sums of money were moved through company accounts, including Kelvito Integrated Services and Ifeabigo Integrated Services, in transactions linked to the former CBN governor.

Emefiele has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court adjourned the matter for continuation of trial.