April 13, (THEWILL) – Former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele has regained his freedom from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody.
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja High Court had on Monday, April 8, remanded Emefiele in the custody of the EFCC pending ruling in his bail application.
Ruling on the application on Friday, Justice Oshodi admitted the former apex bank chief to a N50 million bail with two sureties in like sum.
The judge also directed that the sureties must be gainfully employed and have paid tax to the Lagos State Government in the last three years. The court further directed that the sureties must show proper identification and be registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System.
Emefiele, however, met the bail terms before the court closed on Friday, and was released after the court proceedings.
The Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on April 8, arraigned the former apex bank chief and his co-defendant, Henry Isioma Omoile, on a fresh 26-count charge bordering on abuse of office and corruption.
Emefiele was arraigned before Justice Oshodi on allegations of abuse of office, accepting gratification, accepting gifts through agents, corruption and fraudulent property receipt, while his co-defendant was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on acceptance of gift by agents.
THEWILL reported that Emefiele and Isioma-Omoile, on Monday, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the hearing on Friday, a prosecution witness, Monday Osazuwa, narrated to Justice Oshodi how Emefiele allegedly, on different occasions, directed him to collect sums of $3 million cash in tranches.
Osazuwa, an employee of the CBN, also told the court that he collected the money from a businessman on behalf of Emefiele.
While being led in evidence by the prosecutor, Osazuwa told the court how he served as a dispatch rider in Zenith Bank and later joined the CBN, running errands for the former CBN governor.
The witness told the court that he worked with Zenith Bank Plc as a dispatch rider till 2014 before he started working with the CBN.
“I joined the CBN in 2014 as a contract staff and became a staff in 2015. I have known the first defendant since he was a Deputy Director of Zenith Bank, and he became Director. I have worked with him since then”, he said, adding that he was later appointed a senior supervisor (full-time) to record and handle documents while working in the CBN Governor’s office in Lagos.
“I was still working in the governor’s office while I was appointed as a full staff, and we usually communicate through WhatsApp or email. I perform as a senior supervisor, recording and filing, with other official roles.
“When he called me, he directed that I call a businessman who gave me 11 million dollars on his behalf. Some weeks later, the first defendant also called me to go and see the man, and he gave me $850,000, $750,000 and $400,000 in cash”, he said.
Osazuwa further testified that he knew Dumies Oil and Gas Limited while in Zenith Bank and that the former governor, who was also the MD of the company, always sent him to collect cheques from one Monday.
The witness told the court that he always logged the money into the account of Dumies on the order of Emefiele.
“Whenever I receive the money and take it to the residence of Mr Emefiele, he always tells me to give it to the second defendant whenever he is not at home. I did not record transactions because the instruction was to collect and bring the money to his house. The highest amount I collected is $1 million in cash.
“He has never for one day said to take this. I have never been rewarded, paid or given anything”, he said.
