A former employee of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Monday Osazuwa, testified in court about how the former governor of the apex bank, Godwin Emefiele, directed him to collect three million dollars in cash on multiple occasions. Osazuwa, who previously worked as a dispatch rider at Zenith Bank before joining the CBN in 2014, detailed his interactions with Emefiele during his time at both institutions.
Osazuwa explained that Emefiele, who was the Managing Director of Zenith Bank when Osazuwa worked there, later became his boss at the CBN. He described how Emefiele would instruct him to collect money from various individuals and deliver it to him, sometimes through a second defendant named Henry Isioma-Omoile.
The witness recounted specific instances where he was tasked with collecting large sums of cash and delivering them to Emefiele or Isioma-Omoile. Despite handling significant amounts of money, Osazuwa claimed he never received any rewards or compensation for his services, stating that he acted out of loyalty to Emefiele.
During cross-examination, Osazuwa confirmed his long-standing relationship with Emefiele and his involvement in collecting cheques for Dumies Oil and Gas. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had previously charged Emefiele with multiple counts related to abuse of office and corruption, while Isioma-Omoile faced charges of accepting gifts as an agent.
As the case continues, the court is set to reconvene on April 29 for further proceedings. The judge has denied requests for adjournment, emphasizing the importance of a timely trial. Stay tuned for updates on this high-profile corruption case.
