A business relationship manager with Zenith Bank PLC, Ifeoma Ogbonnaya, testified in a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja about the movement of funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through Zenith Bank to accounts linked to Mrs. Margaret Emefiele, the wife of the former Governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele.
Ogbonnaya, the fifth prosecution witness in the trial of Godwin Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, provided details on charges of alleged abuse of office involving $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.
The witness mentioned that she never had any dealings with the former CBN governor but testified that several transfers totaling billions from the apex bank were made into private companies linked to Mrs. Emefiele.
The inflows were for services rendered by the companies for CBN. The witness highlighted the private companies that received the cash flow from CBN, including Limelight Multidimensional Services Ltd, Comec Support Services Ltd, Andswin Resources Solution Ltd, and Magofarm.
Ogbonnaya also testified that the two signatories to the accounts were Mr. Stephen and Mrs. Patricia, but all transfer instructions were authorized by Mrs. Emefiele. She mentioned that apart from Mrs. Emefiele, she also received instructions from two other people – Mr. John Ogah and one Mr. Opeyemi Oludimu, who worked for Emefiele but is now deceased.
The witness explained that Limelight manages the facilities of CBN in the Alakija area of Lagos and that all transactions regarding power and maintenance were handled by the vendors. Andswin was primarily used to provide diesel to their vendors, Magofarm dealt with piggery and poultry, and Comec had facilities for the CBN guest house in Ikoyi.
Ogbonnaya also detailed some of the cash flows the accounts received on specific dates. Additionally, she mentioned that the documents entailing the various transactions were printed from her desktop computer and she provided certificates confirming so.
The court admitted in evidence the certificate of identification and the bundle of printed documents containing the various transactions the witness purportedly carried out under Mrs. Emefiele’s instructions. Finally, Justice Oshodi granted a request by Mr. Emefiele’s lawyers to recall the first prosecution witness, Monday Osazuwa, for a further cross-examination.
The trial was then adjourned till July 10 for continuation.
Engineer, Entrepreneur, forex trader and Analyst
