The Particular Offences Courtroom in Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, admitted extra paperwork as displays within the ongoing trial of former Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The decide, Rahman Oshodi, dismissed the objections of the defence counsel earlier than admitting the paperwork as Exhibit G.
The prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, who’s a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), continued the examination of Alvan Gurumnaan, an operative of the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC), who offered recent insights into proof uncovered throughout the investigation.
In line with Mr Gurumnaan, EFCC investigators analysed WhatsApp messages contained in Exhibit G, the place one Mr Henry instructed John Adetola to provide $400,000 to “Oga,” believed to be the primary defendant.
“Henry informed Adetola to talk with ‘Oga’ on WhatsApp if potential,” the witness mentioned. “Throughout interrogation, Adetola defined that the dialog referred to his assembly with Ayo, a private assistant to the CBN governor, to ship $400,000.”
The EFCC is prosecuting Mr Emefiele alongside a co-defendant, Henry Omoile, on costs of fraud involving $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion in whole.
Within the case, the previous CBN governor is charged with counts of receiving gratification and making corrupt calls for, whereas his co-defendant is going through costs associated to the illegal acceptance of presents by brokers.
Mr Gurumnaan informed the courtroom that Mr Adetola confirmed visiting Lekki, Lagos, the place he met Mr Ayo and later proceeded to the CBN workplace in Lagos handy over the cash to Mr Emefiele.
“We contacted Ayo, who was working with the CBN on the time. He confirmed that Adetola got here to his home and gave him the cash to ship to the primary defendant,” Mr Gurumnaan added.
“He additionally confirmed a separate transaction of $200,000, which he personally delivered to Emefiele in his workplace.”
The EFCC operative additional testified that Victor Oyedua, a CBN contractor, admitted throughout interrogation that he gave Mr Ayo the sums of $400,000 and $200,000 to ship to the previous CBN governor.
“Oyedua defined that two of his contracts with the CBN have been pending for cost, and he was informed to ‘settle some administration officers’ to facilitate launch of funds,” the witness acknowledged.
The prosecution additionally tendered further paperwork obtained from the CBN as proof, describing them as unique letters from an organization to the EFCC dated 24 February 2024, and different public paperwork obtained throughout the investigation.
Nonetheless, defence attorneys, Olalekan Ojo and Kazeem Gbadamosi, who’re each SANs, objected to the admissibility of the paperwork, arguing that they have been uncertified photocopies.
They urged the courtroom to reject them.
Ruling
Mr Oshodi, nevertheless, overruled the objections and admitted the bundle of paperwork as Exhibit H.
The courtroom additionally admitted a Xiaomi MI10T cellphone belonging to John Adetola as Exhibit I.
The gadget, which was switched on and in flight mode, was analysed by EFCC investigators, who extracted extra WhatsApp conversations between Messrs Adetola and Henry associated to the alleged transactions.
The prosecution additional tendered statements made by the defendant throughout the investigation, which the defence crew claimed have been obtained beneath duress.
The decide, Mr Oshodi, ordered a trial-within-trial to find out the voluntariness of the statements and directed each events to report on the end result of forensic inspection by 21 November.
The matter was adjourned to 2 and three December, for the continuation of the mini-trial.
Earlier testimony collaborated
In an earlier listening to reported by this newspaper, Mr Gurumnaan additionally introduced printouts of WhatsApp conversations admitted as Reveals P1 to P27, detailing how massive sums of international forex have been coordinated via messaging platforms.
He mentioned investigators uncovered a constant sample of money actions linked to the defendants, including that a number of people — together with CBN and Zenith Financial institution employees — have been interviewed as a part of the probe.
Mr Oshodi subsequently adjourned that session to 9 October, for continuation of the trial.
READ ALSO: Prosecution, defence disagree over stalled forensic examination of cellphone in Emefiele’s fraud trial
Background
Mr Emefiele, who served as Nigeria’s Central Financial institution Governor from 2014 to 2023, is standing trial for alleged N4.5 billion fraud and abuse of workplace throughout his tenure.
The EFCC alleges that Mr Emefiele received a number of money funds in {dollars} from CBN contractors via intermediaries, a few of which have been traced through WhatsApp conversations and cellphone information recovered throughout the investigation.
His trial has been marked by disputes between the prosecution and defence over forensic examination procedures, as either side differ on how to verify the authenticity of digital proof.
Mr Emefiele can also be going through separate charges in Abuja over alleged procurement violations involving the CBN’s inner contracts.
