John Adetola, a witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), testified before an Ikeja High Court that there was no formal documentation of the $400,000 he claimed to have handed over to Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Adetola, who served as an executive assistant to Emefiele, made this statement on Monday during a cross-examination by Olalekan Ojo, counsel to the former CBN governor.
Emefiele is currently facing a 19-count charge related to alleged gratification and corrupt demands during his tenure as CBN governor. His co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is being tried on a separate three-count charge concerning unlawful acceptance of gifts by a public officer.
During the cross-examination, Adetola acknowledged that he did not provide the EFCC with any WhatsApp messages or phone call records to show that he had notified Emefiele about collecting the money on his behalf.
He told the court that in 2018, he received a WhatsApp message from one Eric Odoh, instructing him to pick up the money from a man named John Ayoh and deliver it to Emefiele once he arrived in Lagos.
“I went to John Ayoh’s house at Lekki; he gave me an envelope. I came back to the office and gave it to the former CBN governor,” Adetola told the court.
He denied entering into any agreement with the EFCC to testify in exchange for immunity from prosecution, stating that he was only confronted with WhatsApp printouts related to the transaction.
When cross-examined by Adeyinka Kotoye, counsel for the second defendant, Adetola clarified that he had no direct dealings with Omoile.
During re-examination by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, Adetola was asked why he did not record the $400,000 handover.
“I didn’t see any need for it,” he replied.
Justice Rahman Oshodi discharged the witness and adjourned the matter until May 27 for continuation of the trial.
