A former Secretary to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr John Ogah, has told the court that former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele listed his niece as one of the beneficiaries of funds from an account allegedly operated on his behalf.
Recall that Ogah is testifying before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.
Ogah, who is the 6th prosecution witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, made the disclosure while answering questions from the Commission’s lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo.
He told the court that he was aware that Emefiele instructed the 5th prosecution witness, an account officer with Zenith bank, Ifeoma Ogbonnaya, to send funds into the account of his niece named Hannah.
Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, raised objections to this line of questions and queried the relevance of the testimony as Hannah’s name was not mentioned anywhere in the charge.
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Emefiele’s lawyer argued that it was an attempt to introduce sensationalism into the matter.
The EFCC lawyer, however, maintained that it was connected to the fact in issue and abuse of office charge and of conferring corrupt advantage on Emefiele’s associates and immediate family members, including his wife, Margaret.
Through the witness, the EFCC also tendered in evidence several email messages he sent to the account officer of three companies, Comec Support Services Ltd, Limelight Multidimensional Services Ltd and Andswin Resources Limited in Zenith Bank to transfer funds to certain beneficiaries.
The EFCC had alleged that the companies were used to launder funds for the former CBN governor.
Justice Rahman Oshodi adjourned the case to November 28, 2024, for continuation of trial.
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