A Dispatch rider, Monday Osazuwa and first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, on Monday told an Ikeja Special Offences Court that he was instructed by the former CBN governor not to keep any records of the monies he collected.
Osazuwa, who was the first prosecution witness in the trial was recalled for cross-examination.
While he was re-cross-examined by the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), the witness told the court presided by Justice Rahman Oshodi that he did not keep any records of the monies he collected for Emefiele
The former CBN Governor is standing trial over alleged abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of $4.5bn and N2.8bn.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had, on April 8, 2024, arraigned Emefiele on 23 counts bordering on abuse of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand, receiving property fraudulently obtained, and conferring corrupt advantage.
The second defendant, Henry Omoile, was arraigned on three counts bordering on acceptance of gifts by agents.
Both defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Emefiele was admitted to N50m bail with two sureties in like sum.
The trial judge allowed the second defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoile, to continue with the N1m, earlier granted to him by Justice Olufunke Sule-Hamzat of the Yaba High Court.
At the commencement of the trial on April 12, 2024, Osazuwa, who was led in evidence in chief by the EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), narrated to Justice Oshodi how Emefiele, on different occasions, instructed him to collect the sum of $3m cash in tranches.
He said, “The highest amount I collected was $1m, all in cash, and some weeks later, the businessman also called me, and I collected $850,000, $750,000, and $400,000 cash in tranches.
“I did not keep records of transactions because the instructions he (Emefiele)gave me was that I should collect the money and bring it to his house.
