Alleged property fraud: I by no means obtained cash straight from Emefiele – Witness

A prosecution witness, Richard Agulu, on Monday advised the court docket that he didn’t obtain any cash straight from former Central {Bank} of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, within the ongoing alleged property fraud case.

Agulu, a former Zenith {Bank} worker who now works with the Nigeria Communications Fee, testified because the third prosecution witness within the trial initiated by the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee.

The EFCC had filed an eight-count cost towards Emefiele over a disputed housing property positioned at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja.

The property is alleged to measure 150,462.86 sq. metres and consists of 753 housing items.

Beneath cross-examination by defence counsel Matthew Burkaa, the witness acknowledged that any funds linked to the transactions had been obtained via Emefiele’s private assistant, Eric Ocheme.

“I by no means obtained a dime straight from the defendant,” Agulu mentioned, including that he by no means witnessed Emefiele handing cash to Ocheme for onward switch.

He advised the court docket that directions had been allegedly communicated via Ocheme however admitted he didn’t have Emefiele’s telephone quantity and couldn’t recall the variety of transactions concerned.

When offered along with his extra-judicial assertion to the EFCC to refresh his reminiscence, Agulu conceded that he didn’t particularly point out receiving telephone directions, sustaining solely that he acted on directives conveyed via Ocheme. The court docket admitted the assertion in proof and marked it as Exhibit G after preliminary objections from the prosecution had been withdrawn.

Agulu additional testified that the transactions had been executed utilizing banking devices, significantly cheques, and never by way of letters, emails or textual content messages. Though neither Emefiele nor Ocheme had been account holders, he mentioned he included the names of the account homeowners—Chukwuma Okpala of Kelvito Built-in Companies and Peter Adebayo of Ifeadigo Built-in Companies on deposit slips at any time when funds had been paid in.

He additionally acknowledged having a private relationship with Adebayo.
Justice Yusuf Halilu admitted extra paperwork tendered by the defence, noting that arguments concerning their evidential worth could be addressed in last written submissions.

The case was adjourned till April 22 for continuation of cross-examination.