In a developing account before the Special Offences Court in Lagos, a dispatch rider, Monday Osazuwa, meticulously detailed his experiences of being tasked by the former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, with collecting substantial sums of cash, totaling $3 million, in multiple installments.
Osazuwa, who commenced his testimony under the guidance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), outlined his tenure as a dispatch rider at Zenith Bank since 2001, transitioning later to a contract staff member at the CBN in 2014.
During his tenure at Zenith Bank, Osazuwa indicated a professional relationship with Emefiele, who served as the Managing Director. Upon joining Emefiele at the CBN, Osazuwa’s responsibilities expanded to include senior supervisory duties, notably recording and filing documents within the Governor’s office in Lagos.
Detailing the operational dynamics, Osazuwa gave instances where Emefiele allegedly directed him to procure funds, often communicating through digital channels such as WhatsApp and email. Osazuwa recounted a specific incident in 2020 where he received instructions from Emefiele to retrieve an envelope containing cash from a designated individual, subsequently delivering it to his superior.
Osazuwa further disclosed that Emefiele typically handled cash transactions personally when present in Lagos. In the governor’s absence, Osazuwa claimed he was instructed to hand over funds to the second defendant, Henry Omoile. Additionally, Osazuwa referenced his past engagements with Emefiele, including visits to MINL Limited during his tenure at Zenith Bank, where he allegedly facilitated the collection of cheques on behalf of Emefiele.
Regarding the collection process, Osazuwa highlighted the routine of delivering the acquired funds to Emefiele’s residence, detailing instances where the second defendant, Omoile, received the cash in Emefiele’s absence.
Under cross-examination by the defense counsel, Mr. Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, Osazuwa affirmed his longstanding professional association with Emefiele since 2002.
In a subsequent development, Justice Raman Oshodi granted Emefiele bail in the sum of N50 million, stipulating stringent conditions including two sureties with gainful employment, three years of tax payment with the Lagos State Government, and registration in the Lagos State Bail Management System.
Emefiele and his co-defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges, with the case adjourned until April 29, 2024, for trial and the hearing of an application for a closed section. Justice Oshodi also acknowledged the bail conditions of Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoil, ensuring proper documentation transfer to the Special Offences Court.
