…As Emefiele stands trial over alleged $4.5bn and N2.8bn fraud, while in office.

The seventh prosecution witness, Mr John Adetola, in the ongoing trial of the ex-governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, narrated how he collected the sum of $400,000 on behalf of the ex-governor.

Adetola, who was the former personal assistant to Emefiele, made the revelation on Thursday while giving evidence before an Ikeja Special Offences Court.

Emefiele is standing trial for alleged abuse of office and $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud, while in office.

He is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside his co-defendant, Henry Omoile.

Omoile, on his part, is facing a three-count charge bordering on unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents.

At the resumed hearing, Adetola, through his counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court that he managed office correspondences and visitors of the governor in Lagos.

He said his duty gave him direct access to Emefiele.

Adetola said sometime in February 2023, he received an invite from EFCC and was interviewed on his relationship with Emefiele.

He said, “I made a voluntary statement at the EFCC office.

“In 2018, Mr Eric Odoh, the personal assistant to the governor in Abuja, sent a message to me that I should go and meet Mr John Ayoh, the former director of ICT department to collect $400,000 and give it to the governor.

“I went to Mr Ayoh’s house in Lekki and he gave me the envelope.

“I came back to the office and gave the envelope to the governor.”

Adetola further told the court that he informed EFCC about the money during his interrogation.

The witness, also confirmed that he communicated with Emefiele through telephone, email, office line and verbal communication whenever he was around.

He also confirmed to the court that he knew one George and Okanta who were Emefiele’s younger brothers and the governor’s wife, Margaret, by virtue of his relationship with his boss.

Adetola also confirmed to the court that Omoile (his co-defendant) lived in Emefiele’s house in Lagos.

The witness also identified bundles of documents which were official communication between him and the ex-governor.

He also identified documents showing his communication with Ayoh (former director of ICT department) and Odoh (personal assistant to the governor in Abuja).

The prosecution sought to tender the bundles of documents for identification purposes.

Emefiele’s counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN) did not object.

But Omoile’s counsel, Mr Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN), objected and argued that the documents had no basis in law.

According to Kotoye, a document not tendered as an exhibit, should not be tendered at all.

Oyedepo, in his response, argued that the documents were relevant and would prove essential ingredients of the offences.

“The documents are for identification,” he said.

Justice Rahman Oshodi, admitted the bundles of documents for identification purposes, after considering the party’s submissions.

Oshodi adjourned the case until Dec. 10 for cross-examination of the witness. 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday brought a Chinese, Zhengjia Jin, before an Ikeja Special Offences Court, for alleged bribery and N301 million fraud.

Jin, was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on retention of stolen property, bribery and stealing.

The EFCC counsel, Mr Ahmad Usman, told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offences between March 5 and Aug. 9 in Lagos.

He alleged that the defendant dishonestly retained an aggregate sum of N301 million in his account number- 1861390260 domiciled in Access Bank, which belonged to Golden Diamond Industrial Manufacturing Company Ltd.

The prosecutor submitted that the defendant, while working at the company, accepted directly into his bank account the said money as kickbacks from vendors, thereby conferring undue advantage for himself.

The prosecutor said that the defendant’s action was contrary to the company’s employee condition of service.

The anti-graft agency also stated that the defendant dishonestly converted N301 million to his personal use.

According to EFCC, the offences contravene Sections 83, 328, Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011 and Section 280 (2) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Defence Counsel, Mr A.C. Ezenduka informed the court of a bail application.

Counsel to EFCC, however, told the court that the prosecution had not been served.

Justice Rahman Oshodi, remanded the defendant at Ikoyi Custodial Centre, pending hearing of his bail application.

Oshodi adjourned the case until Nov. 22 for hearing of bail application. 

The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Police Command in Lagos state has detained three suspected thieves for allegedly stealing two iPhones from accident victims in Ikeja.

The RRS confirmed this in a post it shared on its verified X handle @rrsLagos767 on Thursday.

The agency stated that the suspects – Isaiah Adegbenro, 38; Edet Johnson, 30; and Efe Sowemimo, 28; were apprehended on Wednesday.

“The suspects were apprehended few metres  away from the accident point while trying to escape with the phones.

“The accident victims were heading towards Ikeja in a red Toyota Camry 2010 when the driver lost control of the vehicle and rammed into a road divider in front of Adeyemi Bero end of Governor Road, Alausa, Ikeja.

“The suspects who were close to the scene when the accident happened, rather than assist the driver and the occupants out of the badly damaged vehicle, were ransacking the victims’ pockets and vehicle.

“Stolen from the accidents victims were: an iPhone 15, valued at N1,300,000:00 and an iPhone 12 worth N620,000:00, ” it stated.

RRS stated that its operatives, who were patrolling the area, when alerted about the actions of the fleeing suspects, pursued them and recovered the two iPhones from their pockets.

It said that its operatives assisted the victims to the hospital and also removed the vehicle from obstruction.

According to the agency, the suspects have made significant confessions and will be charged to court in line with the directives of RRS Commander, CSP Shola Jejeloye.