In a stunning revelation at the Ikeja Special Offences Court, a former employee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Monday Osazuwa, disclosed how he collected a staggering $3 million in cash on behalf of the former apex bank governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Osazuwa, testifying under oath and led by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), recounted how Emefiele directed him on multiple occasions to collect the substantial sum in cash increments.
Starting his career as a dispatch rider at Zenith Bank in 2001 before transitioning to the CBN in 2014, Osazuwa detailed his professional trajectory, which eventually led him to work directly with Emefiele.
Recalling his interactions with Emefiele, who was then the Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Osazuwa stated that he later joined him at the CBN. In 2020, while Emefiele was away from Lagos, Osazuwa received instructions to collect cash from various individuals.
The witness described how he would be given an envelope containing cash and instructed to deliver it to Emefiele. Notably, Osazuwa revealed that Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoile, resided in the former CBN governor’s residence.
Osazuwa testified that he would personally deliver the cash to Emefiele’s residence at Iru Close, Ikoyi, and on occasions when Emefiele was not present, he would hand it over to the second defendant.
Under cross-examination, Osazuwa confirmed his long-standing association with Emefiele, stating that he had been executing similar tasks since 2002. Additionally, he affirmed that instructions from Emefiele were often relayed through the second defendant.
Despite his cooperation with the investigation, Osazuwa asserted that he had never received any form of reward or compensation for his services.
The trial continues as the court examines further evidence surrounding the alleged financial transactions involving the former CBN governor and his associates.
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