Emefiele asked me not to keep records of over $3m cash collected for him, witness tells court

A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told an Ikeja special offences court how Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) instructed him not to formally acknowledge over $3 million he received on his behalf.

Monday Osasuwa, a senior supervisor with the CBN, had testified as the first prosecution witness on April 12.

Osasuwa told the court how Emefiele used him to collect $3 million cash in tranches on different occasions.

Olalekan Ojo, the counsel to Emefiele, has applied for the witness to be recalled.

During the court session on Monday, Ojo asked the witness if he had direct access to Emefiele as a senior supervisor of the CBN or when he was still a dispatch rider before his employment with the apex bank.

“Not in all cases, I do talk to him directly when he is around,” he answered. 

Ojo further asked who was his direct boss to which he answered: “I did not have one direct boss; in my office we have the secretary to the former CBN governor Emefiele.”

The counsel also asked the witness if, in his appointment letter as a senior supervisor, it was stated that he was to run personal errands for his boss. 

Osasuwa replied: “If my boss gives me instructions I can’t refuse.”

The witness further said it was on the grounds of the errands he ran for  Emefelie that the EFCC charged him for money laundering. 

“I have been carrying some dollars for him. So, the EFCC tagged it money laundering. It was based on the messages my boss sent me,” he said. 

Ojo asked him if he produced any document to the EFCC showing the instructions by Emefiele.

“He advised me not to write anything down for all the money I was bringing to him,” Osasuwa answered.

“I did not produce any document because my boss told me not to produce any records.  I will only obey my boss. 

“I did not keep any records because I won’t forget it. My boss asked me not to keep records.

“Whenever my boss is not around, he will instruct me to give it to the second defendant.”