An Assistant Supervisor with Zenith {Bank} Plc, Mrs Ifeoma Ogbonnaya, has narrated how Mr Godwin Emefiele, the previous Governor of the Central {Bank} of Nigeria (CBN), moved funds to his spouse, Mrs Margaret Emefiele.
Ogbonnaya advised an Ikeja Particular Offences Court docket on Tuesday how Emefiele used the {bank} to maneuver multimillion naira to his spouse.
Emefiele is standing trial over abuse of workplace and alleged $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud whereas in workplace.
Ogbonnaya, the fifth prosecution witness, was led in proof by the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC) Counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
She advised the court docket how Emefiele used Zenith {Bank} to switch hundreds of thousands of naira in tranches to his spouse by means of varied firms.
Ogbonnaya stated the businesses that acquired the money circulation had been Amswing Assets and Answer, Limelight Dimensional Service Ltd., Omec Help Service Ltd. and Mango Farm.
“Limelight manages the amenities of CBN, situated at Alakija and all transactions pertaining to energy and fixing issues that aren’t working was at all times performed by the distributors,” she stated.
The witness who additionally doubles as a Enterprise Relationship Supervisor, joined the {bank} in 2006.
Ogbonnaya stated she by no means had direct dealings with the ex-CBN governor however acquired directions from his spouse to switch money from CBN into their non-public firms by means of Zenith {Bank account}.
She stated other than Mrs Emefiele she additionally acquired directions from two different individuals, one Mr John Ogah and one Mr Opeyemi Oludimu, who labored for the Emefiele however now late.
The witness, nevertheless, stated that she managed the assorted firms accounts by means of which the multimillion naira was despatched to.
“Mrs Margaret Emefiele, the ex-CBN governor’s spouse, is the direct beneficiary of the accounts. The businesses despatched switch directions to my e-mail and Margaret is the helpful proprietor of the accounts.
“All transactions made within the accounts had been confirmed by Mrs Emefiele earlier than they had been processed. She sends switch directions on to my official e-mail tackle with Zenith {Bank} or sends two different individuals to behave on her behalf however I nonetheless obtain approval from her,” she stated.
The witness additionally advised the court docket that from March 9 to 11, 2015, the accounts acquired money circulation from the apex {bank} to the tune of N18. 9 million and N1.8 million respectively
“On Feb. 22, 2021, there was a money circulation of N43 million from CBN, on July 21, 2022, there was a money circulation of N37.3 million, on Oct. 21, 2022, there was a credit score circulation of N44.6 million, on Might 10, 2023, there was a money circulation of N93.1 million from CBN, amongst others,” she stated.
The witness additional stated that she often talk with Emefiele’s spouse by means of e-mail, cellphone calls and Whatsapp on transactions that had been to be carried out on the accounts earlier than processing them.
She stated the bundles of paperwork which entailed the assorted transactions had been printed from her workplace desktop pc.
“The paperwork had been despatched to my e-mail and when investigation began, I used to be requested to print all of the paperwork to the regulation enforcement which I did.
“I printed from the workplace desk high and took them to compliance officer. I even have certificates confirming that these paperwork had been printed from Zenith {Bank},” Ogbonnaya stated.
The prosecution sought to tender the bundles of paperwork which entailed the assorted transactions that passed off between the witness and Emefiele’s spouse.
Emefiele’s Counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), and the second defence counsel, Mr Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN), didn’t object the admissibility of the paperwork.
The court docket, thereafter, admitted into proof the certificates of identification, bundle of printed paperwork, following no objections from the defence.
The witness, thereafter, spoke into the paperwork and briefly defined the influx and outflow of fund, purportedly despatched from the CBN by means of Zenith {Bank} to Emefiele’s spouse.
The prosecution additionally sought the indulgence of the court docket for the witness to write down down the quantity wherein she used to have conversations with Mrs Emefiele on an A4 paper which was admitted into proof.
The witness, nevertheless, stated that she couldn’t bear in mind some digits of the quantity by coronary heart however she may recollect it by means of her cell phone.
The 2 defence counsel, nevertheless, objected to the witness, recalling the quantity by means of her cellphone.
The Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) experiences that Justice Rahman Oshodi had earlier within the continuing granted the applying filed by the second defence counsel to recall the primary prosecution witness, Monday Osazuwa.
EFCC had on April 8 arraigned Emefiele on 23 counts bordering on abuse of workplace, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand, receiving property fraudulently obtained and conferring corrupt benefit.
Additionally, his co-defendant Henry Omoile-Isioma, was arraigned on three counts bordering on acceptance of reward by brokers.
The defendants, nevertheless, pleaded not responsible.
The decide, nevertheless, adjourned the case till July 10 for continuation of trial. (NAN)
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