The Lagos High Court in Ikeja has granted the defense’s request to recall the first prosecution witness in the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria’s Governor, Godwin Emefiele, who faces allegations of abuse of office.
Justice Rahman Oshodi approved the request following an application by Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN), counsel to Emefiele’s co-defendant. Gbadamosi requested the court to recall Monday Osazuwa, a staff member of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who testified earlier about Emefiele’s instructions to collect three million dollars in cash over several occasions.
The counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), did not object to the request.
Justice Oshodi stated, “The second defense counsel seeks to further cross-examine the first prosecution witness on matters listed in paragraph 4 D of the affidavit in support of the application. The prosecution did not file a rebuttal, and I hereby grant the application.”
In April, Osazuwa had described how Emefiele directed him to collect large sums of cash. The case has since included testimonies from other witnesses, including contractor Clement Onyejiuwa, who detailed payments he made to a former CBN Director of Information Technology, John Ayoh.
Onyejiuwa corrected an error in his statement regarding the locations where he handed over $600,000 to Ayoh, clarifying that $400,000 was given in Lagos and $200,000 in Abuja. During cross-examination by Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), Onyejiuwa admitted the mistake but insisted that other aspects of his statement were accurate, despite omissions.
He testified, “I did not pay a bribe; it was extortion. I was under serious pressure from my partners to pay the demanded sums.”
Onyejiuwa further explained that his primary reason for appearing in court was not to recover the money but to address the issue of extortion. He confirmed that the partners who pressured him were Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), not shareholders in his company.
The court discharged Onyejiuwa after his testimony and adjourned the trial to July 9 and 10 for further proceedings.
