I Facilitated Cash Deliveries For Emefiele

Dispatch Rider speaks on Cash Deliveries For Emefiele.
Witness recounts delivering cash to defendant’s residence, implicating co-defendant.
Bail granted with strict conditions; trial proceedings ongoing with plea of not guilty.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that in testimony before the Special Offences Court in Lagos on Friday, dispatch rider Monday Osazuwa recounted how the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, instructed him on multiple occasions to collect $3 million in cash installments.

Osazuwa, who provided his testimony under examination by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), revealed his tenure as a dispatch rider at Zenith Bank since 2001 before transitioning to a contract staff position at the CBN in 2014.

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During his tenure at Zenith Bank, Osazuwa stated that Emefiele served as the Managing Director, establishing a professional relationship with him prior to his subsequent employment at the CBN.

The witness, who testified before Justice Raman Oshodi, said he was later appointed as a senior supervisor (full-time) 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.”

The witness further told the court that Emefiele usually collected money alone whenever he was in Lagos.

According to him, any time the defendant was not around, Emefiele would tell him (Osazuwa) to give the money to the second defendant, Henry Omoile.

Osazuwa added that Emefiele sent him to MINL Limited when he was with 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 further stated that Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoile, lived in the residence of the former CBN governor.

He stated that when he collected money for his boss (Emefiele), he would take it to his 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.

While being cross-examined by the defence counsel, Mr. Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, the witness confirmed to the court that he had been working with the defendant since 2002.

Earlier, Justice Oshodi had granted Emefiele bail in the sum of N50m.

He is being tried for alleged abuse of office and fraud to the tune of $4.5bn and N2.8bn.

The judge admitted Emefiele to N50m bail with two sureties in like sum.

He stipulated that the sureties must be gainfully employed and have a record of three years’ tax payments to the Lagos State Government. Additionally, Oshodi emphasized that the sureties must provide proper identification and be enrolled in the Lagos State Bail Management System.

The judge expressed satisfaction with the previously granted bail conditions of N1 million for Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoil, who faces a separate trial before Justice Olufunke Sule-Hamzat of the Yaba High Court.

However, Oshodi specified that the bail documentation must be transferred to the Special Offences Court and registered within the Lagos State Bail Management System.

Emefiele was arraigned by the EFCC on Monday, April 8, facing 23 counts related to abuse of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demands, receiving property fraudulently obtained, and conferring corrupt advantage.

His co-defendant faced three counts related to accepting a gift as agents. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.