Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Special Offences Court has been told how one John Adetola, an Executive Assistant to the embattled former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele handed over $400,000 to him.
The Executive Assistant to the former CBN Governor John Adetola disclosed this before Justice Rahman Oshodi while being led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
Adetola, the 7th prosecution witness said he was summoned from Ekiti, his new posting place.
He told the court: “In 2018, I can’t remember the date, Mr Eric Odoh sent me a message on WhatsApp that I should go collect $400,000 from John Ayo and to give to the former CBN Governor when he came to Lagos”
“I went to the house of John Ayo at Lekki in Lagos. He gave me an envelope and I came back to the office, I gave it to the former CBN Governor”
The witness told the court that he was the Executive Assistant to the former CBN Governor and he manages office correspondences, attends to visitors and other tasks as assigned his boss.
“I joined the CBN in June 2014 but before I was with Veritas Registrars, formerly Zenith Registrars. I joined the company in 2007.”
He also stated that he knew the former CBN Governor before as the Managing Director of Zenith Bank before he started working at the CBN.
Asked to mention of his means of communication with Emefiele, the witness said, “I communicate with the former CBN Governor through telephone, office line, email and verbal communication.”
Asked to name some of Emefiele family members, the witness said, “I know Mr. George, I know Mr Okanta. They are Mr Emefiele’s brothers. I know his wife, Mrs Margaret Emefiele. I know the second defendant, Henry Omoile.”
The witness also gave an account of how he was invited by the EFCC. Adetola told the court that he was invited to the EFCC office and he made a voluntary statement based on the interview they had with him.
“In February 2023, I received an invitation from the EFCC to come to their office. They interviewed me. I travel to the EFCC office in Lagos and made voluntary statements”
Oyedepo asked him whether in the cause of discharging his duty to the former CBN Governor, if he had any interaction with John Ayo
“Yes we work together, John Ayo was the former Director of the ICT.”
Adetola also informed the court that his phone was been accessed by the EFCC which some office documents were seen and questioned on which was printed out.
“In 2018, I can’t remember the date, Mr Eric sent me a message on WhatsApp that I should go collect $400,000 from John Ayo and give to the former CBN Governor when he comes to Lagos”
“I went to the house of John Ayo at Lekki in Lagos state, he gave me an envelope and I came back to the office, I gave it to the former CBN Governor”
The documents where shown to him and he confirmed it.
Oyedepo thereafter sought the permission of the court to tender the bundle of documents.
Olaleko Ojo (SAN) counsel to the first defendant, Godwin Emefiele objected to the admissibility of the documents.
“ I am objecting to the documents on ground, that there is substantial compliances. It has been tendered for purposes of identification. May I with respect submit that no provision in Evidence Act that allowed documents to be tendered for identification purposes.
“He never said he was the one that printed it. I can see an identification on the top of the evidence, who is not the witness but a name, Idi Musa.”
Ojo contended to the court that the purpose at which the documents was been tendered was for identification.
Counsel to the second defendant Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN) countered and also objected to the admissibility of the documents stating that the prosecuting counsel did not state any reference from the law.
Responding, Oyedepo insisted on tendering it for purpose of identification.
He asked the witness to state the contents of the bundle of documents.
The witness said: “the documents are combination of official communication between myself and the governor via Whatsapp, between myself and John Ogah and Eric Odoh. It also contain other official documents that I received for action.
“It also contain office consumables, and other documents from Limelight, Commec and Dummia Oil.The other documents have to do with the admin department for procurements.
“The document were found on my phone and were printed at EFCC.”
The witness said he endorsed the documents as being printed as being printed from his mobile phone.
Both Ojo and Kotoye objected to the admissibility of the documents citing section 84 of the Evidence Act.
Kotoye said he cannot see the purpose of the documents being tendered for identification under the law.
Justice Oshodi in a bench ruling admitted the documents and marked it as “purpose of identification”.
He adjourned the matter till December 10.
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Special Offences Court has been told how one John Adetola, an Executive Assistant to the embattled former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele handed over $400,000 to him.
The Executive Assistant to the former CBN Governor John Adetola disclosed this before Justice Rahman Oshodi while being led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
Adetola, the 7th prosecution witness said he was summoned from Ekiti, his new posting place.
He told the court: “In 2018, I can’t remember the date, Mr Eric Odoh sent me a message on WhatsApp that I should go collect $400,000 from John Ayo and to give to the former CBN Governor when he came to Lagos”
“I went to the house of John Ayo at Lekki in Lagos. He gave me an envelope and I came back to the office, I gave it to the former CBN Governor”
The witness told the court that he was the Executive Assistant to the former CBN Governor and he manages office correspondences, attends to visitors and other tasks as assigned his boss.
“I joined the CBN in June 2014 but before I was with Veritas Registrars, formerly Zenith Registrars. I joined the company in 2007.”
He also stated that he knew the former CBN Governor before as the Managing Director of Zenith Bank before he started working at the CBN.
Asked to mention of his means of communication with Emefiele, the witness said, “I communicate with the former CBN Governor through telephone, office line, email and verbal communication.”
Asked to name some of Emefiele family members, the witness said, “I know Mr. George, I know Mr Okanta. They are Mr Emefiele’s brothers. I know his wife, Mrs Margaret Emefiele. I know the second defendant, Henry Omoile.”
The witness also gave an account of how he was invited by the EFCC. Adetola told the court that he was invited to the EFCC office and he made a voluntary statement based on the interview they had with him.
“In February 2023, I received an invitation from the EFCC to come to their office. They interviewed me. I travel to the EFCC office in Lagos and made voluntary statements”
Oyedepo asked him whether in the cause of discharging his duty to the former CBN Governor, if he had any interaction with John Ayo
“Yes we work together, John Ayo was the former Director of the ICT.”
Adetola also informed the court that his phone was been accessed by the EFCC which some office documents were seen and questioned on which was printed out.
“In 2018, I can’t remember the date, Mr Eric sent me a message on WhatsApp that I should go collect $400,000 from John Ayo and give to the former CBN Governor when he comes to Lagos”
“I went to the house of John Ayo at Lekki in Lagos state, he gave me an envelope and I came back to the office, I gave it to the former CBN Governor”
The documents where shown to him and he confirmed it.
Oyedepo thereafter sought the permission of the court to tender the bundle of documents.
Olaleko Ojo (SAN) counsel to the first defendant, Godwin Emefiele objected to the admissibility of the documents.
“ I am objecting to the documents on ground, that there is substantial compliances. It has been tendered for purposes of identification. May I with respect submit that no provision in Evidence Act that allowed documents to be tendered for identification purposes.
“He never said he was the one that printed it. I can see an identification on the top of the evidence, who is not the witness but a name, Idi Musa.”
Ojo contended to the court that the purpose at which the documents was been tendered was for identification.
Counsel to the second defendant Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN) countered and also objected to the admissibility of the documents stating that the prosecuting counsel did not state any reference from the law.
Responding, Oyedepo insisted on tendering it for purpose of identification.
He asked the witness to state the contents of the bundle of documents.
The witness said: “the documents are combination of official communication between myself and the governor via Whatsapp, between myself and John Ogah and Eric Odoh. It also contain other official documents that I received for action.
“It also contain office consumables, and other documents from Limelight, Commec and Dummia Oil.The other documents have to do with the admin department for procurements.
“The document were found on my phone and were printed at EFCC.”
The witness said he endorsed the documents as being printed as being printed from his mobile phone.
Both Ojo and Kotoye objected to the admissibility of the documents citing section 84 of the Evidence Act.
Kotoye said he cannot see the purpose of the documents being tendered for identification under the law.
Justice Oshodi in a bench ruling admitted the documents and marked it as “purpose of identification”.
He adjourned the matter till December 10.
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Special Offences Court has been told how one John Adetola, an Executive Assistant to the embattled former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele handed over $400,000 to him.
The Executive Assistant to the former CBN Governor John Adetola disclosed this before Justice Rahman Oshodi while being led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
Adetola, the 7th prosecution witness said he was summoned from Ekiti, his new posting place.
He told the court: “In 2018, I can’t remember the date, Mr Eric Odoh sent me a message on WhatsApp that I should go collect $400,000 from John Ayo and to give to the former CBN Governor when he came to Lagos”
“I went to the house of John Ayo at Lekki in Lagos. He gave me an envelope and I came back to the office, I gave it to the former CBN Governor”
The witness told the court that he was the Executive Assistant to the former CBN Governor and he manages office correspondences, attends to visitors and other tasks as assigned his boss.
“I joined the CBN in June 2014 but before I was with Veritas Registrars, formerly Zenith Registrars. I joined the company in 2007.”
He also stated that he knew the former CBN Governor before as the Managing Director of Zenith Bank before he started working at the CBN.
Asked to mention of his means of communication with Emefiele, the witness said, “I communicate with the former CBN Governor through telephone, office line, email and verbal communication.”
Asked to name some of Emefiele family members, the witness said, “I know Mr. George, I know Mr Okanta. They are Mr Emefiele’s brothers. I know his wife, Mrs Margaret Emefiele. I know the second defendant, Henry Omoile.”
The witness also gave an account of how he was invited by the EFCC. Adetola told the court that he was invited to the EFCC office and he made a voluntary statement based on the interview they had with him.
“In February 2023, I received an invitation from the EFCC to come to their office. They interviewed me. I travel to the EFCC office in Lagos and made voluntary statements”
Oyedepo asked him whether in the cause of discharging his duty to the former CBN Governor, if he had any interaction with John Ayo
“Yes we work together, John Ayo was the former Director of the ICT.”
Adetola also informed the court that his phone was been accessed by the EFCC which some office documents were seen and questioned on which was printed out.
“In 2018, I can’t remember the date, Mr Eric sent me a message on WhatsApp that I should go collect $400,000 from John Ayo and give to the former CBN Governor when he comes to Lagos”
“I went to the house of John Ayo at Lekki in Lagos state, he gave me an envelope and I came back to the office, I gave it to the former CBN Governor”
The documents where shown to him and he confirmed it.
Oyedepo thereafter sought the permission of the court to tender the bundle of documents.
Olaleko Ojo (SAN) counsel to the first defendant, Godwin Emefiele objected to the admissibility of the documents.
“ I am objecting to the documents on ground, that there is substantial compliances. It has been tendered for purposes of identification. May I with respect submit that no provision in Evidence Act that allowed documents to be tendered for identification purposes.
“He never said he was the one that printed it. I can see an identification on the top of the evidence, who is not the witness but a name, Idi Musa.”
Ojo contended to the court that the purpose at which the documents was been tendered was for identification.
Counsel to the second defendant Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN) countered and also objected to the admissibility of the documents stating that the prosecuting counsel did not state any reference from the law.
Responding, Oyedepo insisted on tendering it for purpose of identification.
He asked the witness to state the contents of the bundle of documents.
The witness said: “the documents are combination of official communication between myself and the governor via Whatsapp, between myself and John Ogah and Eric Odoh. It also contain other official documents that I received for action.
“It also contain office consumables, and other documents from Limelight, Commec and Dummia Oil.The other documents have to do with the admin department for procurements.
“The document were found on my phone and were printed at EFCC.”
The witness said he endorsed the documents as being printed as being printed from his mobile phone.
Both Ojo and Kotoye objected to the admissibility of the documents citing section 84 of the Evidence Act.
Kotoye said he cannot see the purpose of the documents being tendered for identification under the law.
Justice Oshodi in a bench ruling admitted the documents and marked it as “purpose of identification”.
He adjourned the matter till December 10.
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Special Offences Court has been told how one John Adetola, an Executive Assistant to the embattled former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele handed over $400,000 to him.
The Executive Assistant to the former CBN Governor John Adetola disclosed this before Justice Rahman Oshodi while being led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
Adetola, the 7th prosecution witness said he was summoned from Ekiti, his new posting place.
He told the court: “In 2018, I can’t remember the date, Mr Eric Odoh sent me a message on WhatsApp that I should go collect $400,000 from John Ayo and to give to the former CBN Governor when he came to Lagos”
“I went to the house of John Ayo at Lekki in Lagos. He gave me an envelope and I came back to the office, I gave it to the former CBN Governor”
The witness told the court that he was the Executive Assistant to the former CBN Governor and he manages office correspondences, attends to visitors and other tasks as assigned his boss.
“I joined the CBN in June 2014 but before I was with Veritas Registrars, formerly Zenith Registrars. I joined the company in 2007.”
He also stated that he knew the former CBN Governor before as the Managing Director of Zenith Bank before he started working at the CBN.
Asked to mention of his means of communication with Emefiele, the witness said, “I communicate with the former CBN Governor through telephone, office line, email and verbal communication.”
Asked to name some of Emefiele family members, the witness said, “I know Mr. George, I know Mr Okanta. They are Mr Emefiele’s brothers. I know his wife, Mrs Margaret Emefiele. I know the second defendant, Henry Omoile.”
The witness also gave an account of how he was invited by the EFCC. Adetola told the court that he was invited to the EFCC office and he made a voluntary statement based on the interview they had with him.
“In February 2023, I received an invitation from the EFCC to come to their office. They interviewed me. I travel to the EFCC office in Lagos and made voluntary statements”
Oyedepo asked him whether in the cause of discharging his duty to the former CBN Governor, if he had any interaction with John Ayo
“Yes we work together, John Ayo was the former Director of the ICT.”
Adetola also informed the court that his phone was been accessed by the EFCC which some office documents were seen and questioned on which was printed out.
“In 2018, I can’t remember the date, Mr Eric sent me a message on WhatsApp that I should go collect $400,000 from John Ayo and give to the former CBN Governor when he comes to Lagos”
“I went to the house of John Ayo at Lekki in Lagos state, he gave me an envelope and I came back to the office, I gave it to the former CBN Governor”
The documents where shown to him and he confirmed it.
Oyedepo thereafter sought the permission of the court to tender the bundle of documents.
Olaleko Ojo (SAN) counsel to the first defendant, Godwin Emefiele objected to the admissibility of the documents.
“ I am objecting to the documents on ground, that there is substantial compliances. It has been tendered for purposes of identification. May I with respect submit that no provision in Evidence Act that allowed documents to be tendered for identification purposes.
“He never said he was the one that printed it. I can see an identification on the top of the evidence, who is not the witness but a name, Idi Musa.”
Ojo contended to the court that the purpose at which the documents was been tendered was for identification.
Counsel to the second defendant Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN) countered and also objected to the admissibility of the documents stating that the prosecuting counsel did not state any reference from the law.
Responding, Oyedepo insisted on tendering it for purpose of identification.
He asked the witness to state the contents of the bundle of documents.
The witness said: “the documents are combination of official communication between myself and the governor via Whatsapp, between myself and John Ogah and Eric Odoh. It also contain other official documents that I received for action.
“It also contain office consumables, and other documents from Limelight, Commec and Dummia Oil.The other documents have to do with the admin department for procurements.
“The document were found on my phone and were printed at EFCC.”
The witness said he endorsed the documents as being printed as being printed from his mobile phone.
Both Ojo and Kotoye objected to the admissibility of the documents citing section 84 of the Evidence Act.
Kotoye said he cannot see the purpose of the documents being tendered for identification under the law.
Justice Oshodi in a bench ruling admitted the documents and marked it as “purpose of identification”.
He adjourned the matter till December 10.
