Alleged Abuse Of Office: Enefiele Collected $600,000 As Gratification For Contract, Witness Tells Court

A former Director of Information Technology in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr John Ayoh has informed Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, that a sum to the tune of $600,000 was received on behalf of the former Governor of the Apex bank, Godwin Emefiele.

Addressing the court as a witness brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ayoh, while being led in evidence by the counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), confirmed that he had spent eight years in the CBN and that he received a letter from the EFCC concerning two transactions which he facilitated through Emefiele, adding that the first envelope containing $400,000 was brought to his house in Lekki, while he received the second envelope containing $200,000 at the Tinubu Head Office of the CBN.

Ayoh who was Head of the Procurement and Support Services (PSS) Department, vested with powers to receive applications for the award of contracts to select successful bidders, equally hinted to Justice Oshodi that, “The man to deliver the second transaction came to the office in Lagos and I informed the governor, but he said he would rather not see a third party and that I should bring the envelope myself.

"I complied with the instruction and went to his office and delivered it. Mr John Adeola was the one I sent my address to, and he came to my house.

“He is the governor's assistant and the total money I received on his behalf was $400,000 and $200,000, respectively.”

The witness equally notified the judge that the vendors who brought the alleged envelopes containing money were responsible for the implementation of Netapp Storage Architectural and Infrastructural Services.

But under cross-examination by Emefiele's counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), the witness affirmed before the court that his schedule of duties did not include running errands for the former CBN governor, adding that he directly worked under him.

According to Ayoh, the former CBN helmsman was not a member of the PSS, but he was a member of the Major Contract Tender Committee (MCTC).

"I was invited by the EFCC on February 17, I was not arrested, but I returned home on administrative bail.

“I operated under duress while I received the two envelopes from the contractors.”

The case has been adjourned until May 3, 2024, for the continuation of cross-examination.

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