A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that he handled cash deposits running into billions of naira on behalf of the ex-CBN chief.
The witness, Richard Agulu, a former employee of Zenith Bank, made the disclosure while testifying as the third prosecution witness before Justice Yusuf Halilu during the continuation of Emefiele’s alleged N7.8bn fraud trial.
Under cross-examination by Emefiele’s counsel, Matthew Burkaa (SAN), Agulu alleged that the cash was consistently delivered to him by Eric Ocheme, whom he identified as Emefiele’s personal assistant.
According to him, the funds were either paid into the accounts of Ifeabigo Integrated Services and Kelvito Integrated Services or kept in the bank’s vault, based on instructions allegedly relayed by Ocheme on behalf of the former CBN governor.
Agulu told the court that throughout his 17-year banking career, he carried out the transactions in line with banking procedures and acted on instructions purportedly originating from Emefiele.
He added that withdrawals from the accounts were authorised by the companies’ signatories, while he received verbal approval from his superiors to process the transactions.
“For every transaction, I followed normal banking procedures. There are different scenarios for different transactions,” the witness said.
“There are waivers for certain customers who can bring cash into the bank. I was not given written approval, but I received verbal approval from my superiors to attend to the defendant’s transactions.
“I cannot mention their names because I do not want to put anybody in trouble.”
Agulu further testified that he supervised the transfer of N1.6bn to MG Properties Limited.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Emefiele on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, forgery and unlawful possession of properties suspected to be proceeds of crime.
The former CBN governor has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The EFCC also listed Ocheme in the charge, but told the court that he remains at large.
Following the day’s proceedings, Justice Halilu adjourned the case until November 3, 4 and 5 for continuation of trial.
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