John Ogah, a former Secretary of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), testified during a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja that ex-CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele allegedly directed funds into an account belonging to his niece. Ogah’s testimony comes as part of an ongoing trial where Emefiele faces charges related to abuse of office and financial misconduct.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, is prosecuting Emefiele on allegations of using his office to grant undue advantages to associates and family members.
Ogah, appearing as the sixth prosecution witness for the EFCC, provided his testimony during questioning by EFCC’s lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Rotimi Oyedepo. He disclosed that Emefiele had instructed a Zenith Bank account officer, Ifeoma Ogbonnaya, to transfer funds into the account of his niece, identified as Hannah.
Emefiele’s defense lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, objected to the inclusion of Hannah’s name in the testimony, stating that her name was not listed in the original charges. He argued that raising this point appeared aimed at generating unnecessary attention and sensationalizing the case, possibly to sway public opinion.
Despite Ojo’s objection, the EFCC lawyer asserted that Ogah’s testimony was relevant to proving the charge of abuse of office, adding that funds were allegedly funneled to Emefiele’s close associates, including his wife, Margaret.
As the trial proceeded, the EFCC introduced additional evidence in court. The commission presented several emails reportedly sent by Ogah to account officers at Zenith Bank who handled the finances of three companies—Comec Support Services Ltd, Limelight Multidimensional Services Ltd, and Andswin Resources Limited. According to the EFCC, these companies were allegedly utilized to launder funds on behalf of Emefiele.
The prosecution argues that these transactions represent a pattern of abuse by the former CBN governor, who is accused of misusing his position to channel resources toward his associates and family members. However, the defense maintains that the prosecution has yet to provide concrete evidence directly linking Emefiele to any misconduct, labeling the charges as speculative.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, presiding over the case, adjourned the trial to November 28, 2024, for further proceedings.
