In the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele, who faces allegations of procurement fraud, the prosecution presented his account statement before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday.
Prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) introduced Emefiele’s Zenith Bank account statement through the eighth prosecution witness, Umar Abba Tilde. Tilde, a Compliance Officer with Zenith Bank, testified that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had requested three sets of documents from the bank, including the account statement, which revealed a N4 million payment to Architekon Nigeria Limited on January 13, 2015.
Emefiele is being tried on a 20-count amended charge, which includes accusations of conferring corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and obtaining by false pretence, totaling $6.23 million.
Tilde stated that in November 2023, the EFCC requested account opening documents, a statement of account, and a certificate of identification related to Emefiele’s account, which the bank provided. After Tilde identified the documents, Justice Hamza Muazu admitted them into evidence without objection from defense lawyer Matthew Burkaa (SAN).
During cross-examination, Tilde admitted he did not know the purpose of the N4 million payment to Architekon. He also acknowledged that he had been with Zenith Bank for over 20 years, starting in 2004, and knew Emefiele had worked there from 1990 to 2014 before becoming the CBN Governor from 2014 to 2023. Tilde confirmed the submitted statement covered transactions from January 1, 2015, to November 6, 2023.
Earlier, ICPC investigator Michael Agboro testified that Emefiele had awarded contracts to Architekon Nigeria Limited and April1616 Investment Limited, companies linked to his wife, Margaret, and a CBN staff member, Sa’adatu Yaro. Agboro claimed that these companies received multiple contracts for renovations and supplies for the CBN governor’s lodge in Lagos.
The prosecution’s ninth witness, lawyer Mrs. Abibia Ockiya-Ogeleye, stated she was engaged by Architekon to modify its shareholding structure and number of directors. She explained that, in 2021, the company’s directors and shareholding structure changed, with Omoile Makonbo transferring shares to Omoile Margaret and Esther Oyeladun Adeohun.
Under cross-examination, Ockiya-Ogeleye revealed she communicated with Esther Oyeladun Adeohun via email and did not personally witness the execution of the documents. She noted that Mrs. Margaret Omoile was not in the country at the time and that she did not know who Margaret Omoile was.
Following Ockiya-Ogeleye’s testimony, Burkaa informed the court that Emefiele had filed a motion requesting the release of his international passport for medical reasons. Justice Muazu adjourned the hearing of the motion to July 8 and the continuation of the trial to October 21.
