A former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) employee, Mr. Monday Osazuwa, has testified in court about his experiences with the ex-governor of the apex bank, Godwin Emefiele.
Osazuwa, who previously worked as a dispatch rider at Zenith Bank before joining CBN, recounted on Friday how Emefiele directed him to collect $3 million (three million dollars) in cash over time, News About Nigeria reports.
Speaking under the guidance of EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), he detailed his journey from being a dispatch rider to a senior supervisor at CBN.
He said he got to know Emefiele during their time together at Zenith Bank, where Emefiele served as Managing Director before moving to CBN.
Osazuwa narrated how Emefiele instructed him to pick up envelopes containing cash from various individuals and deliver them to him.
He said, “I was still working in the CBN governor’s office while I was appointed as a full staff member and we usually communicated through WhatsApp and email. I function as a senior supervisor, recording and filing with other official roles.”
“I recall that in 2020, when he was outside Lagos, he called me and said that he would give me a number that a man had something I should collect from him and that the man would give me the number of another person.
“When I got to the man’s office, I was given an envelope. I counted the money and the man said I should give it to my boss,” he said.
He mentioned one occasion where he received $1 million (one million dollars) in cash and subsequently collected amounts of $850,000, $750,000, and $400,000 in separate instances.
Osazuwa explained that he carried out these tasks faithfully, delivering the cash to Emefiele’s residence in Ikoyi whenever he was not in Lagos.
However, despite his loyalty, Osazuwa said he had never received any rewards or compensation for his services.
“I have never been rewarded, paid, or given anything because I am doing it out of faithfulness, and he knows it, but he has never for once said, ‘take this’,” he said.
During cross-examination, Osazuwa admitted his long-standing association with Emefiele since 2002 and admitted to receiving instructions through Emefiele’s associate, the second defendant.
He also acknowledged his involvement in collecting cheques for Dumies Oil and Gas, a company associated with Emefiele, dating back to his time at Zenith Bank.
“I started collecting cheques for Dumies Oil and Gas when I was in Zenith Bank.
“I cannot calculate the exact year I have been collecting the cheques but it all started when the first defendant was the Managing Director at Zenith Bank and I was working at Zenith Bank,” he said.
The EFCC brought charges against Emefiele on Monday, accusing him of 23 counts, including abuse of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand, receiving fraudulently obtained property, and conferring corrupt advantage. His co-defendant faced three counts related to accepting gifts as an agent.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty on Friday.
