On Friday, a dispatch rider named Monday Osazuwa recounted to the Special Offences Court in Lagos how the former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, instructed him on multiple occasions to collect $3 million in cash in installments.
Osazuwa, who had been a dispatch rider at Zenith Bank since 2001 before joining the CBN as a contract staff member in 2014, stated that Emefiele was the Managing Director of Zenith Bank while he worked there and later became his boss in the CBN.
He further mentioned that he was eventually appointed as a senior supervisor in charge of recording and filing documents while working in the CBN Governor’s office in Lagos.
Osazuwa said, “I was still working in the governor’s office when I was appointed a full-time staff member, and we usually communicated through WhatsApp and email.
“I performed as a senior supervisor, recording and filing with other official roles.
“I could recall that, in 2020, when he was outside Lagos, Emefiele called me and gave me a number that a man had something I would collect from him, and that the man would give me the number of another person.
“When I got to the man’s office, I was given an envelope. I counted the money (in it), and was told to give it to my boss.”
Additionally, the witness informed the court that Emefiele typically handled money matters alone whenever he was in Lagos. In Emefiele’s absence, Osazuwa stated that he was instructed to hand the money to the second defendant, Henry Omoile.
Osazuwa also mentioned that Emefiele directed him to MINL Limited during his tenure at Zenith Bank.
He added, “This company is situated at Isolo. The first defendant(Emefiele) do send me to collect cheques from the company from Mr. Monday, and when I collect the cheque from Mr. Monday, I would give it back to Emefiele, and he would lodge the money into the account of Dummies Oil and Gas.”
Osazuwa also mentioned that Henry Isioma-Omoile, Emefiele’s co-defendant, resided in the former CBN governor’s home. He explained that whenever he collected money for Emefiele, he would deliver it to Emefiele’s residence at Iru Close, Ikoyi, Lagos.
“Whenever I received the money and took it to my boss’ residence, Mr Emefiele would tell me to give it to the second defendant (Omoile) whenever he was not home.
“I did not keep a record of the transactions, because he instructed me that I should collect the money and bring it to his house.
“The highest amount I collected was $1m, all in cash. Some weeks later, the businessman also called me, and I collected $850,000, $750,000, and $400,000 in cash in different tranches.
“I have never been rewarded, paid, or given anything. I was doing it out of faithfulness, and he knows it, but he never for once said, ‘Take this’,” the witness said.
During cross-examination by the defense counsel, Mr. Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, the witness affirmed to the court that he had been employed by the defendant since 2002.
Earlier, Justice Oshodi had granted Emefiele bail in the sum of N50 million. Emefiele faces charges of alleged abuse of office and fraud amounting to $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.
The judge approved Emefiele’s bail with two sureties each providing N50 million. These sureties must be employed and have a three-year record of tax payment with the Lagos State Government. They must also possess proper identification and be registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System.
Furthermore, Justice Oshodi expressed satisfaction with the N1 million bail conditions previously granted to Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoil, who is facing trial in another case before Justice Olufunke Sule-Hamzat of the Yaba High Court.
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