In an ongoing legal case, Mr. John Ogah, the former Secretary of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), testified at the Lagos Special Offences Court in Ikeja. He alleged that former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele instructed payments to be made into the account of his niece, Hannah Emefiele.
The trial, which revolves around a three-count charge of unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents, has seen the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) further accuse Emefiele of misappropriating $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion during his tenure.
Ogah, the sixth prosecution witness, testified under questioning by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), explaining that as directed by Emefiele, he instructed an account officer to transfer funds into Hannah’s bank account. Ogah described his role in relaying emails and directives, confirming, “I have the instructions of my boss to send the emails to the account officer, and all the instructions he gave were carried out.”
However, Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), challenged Ogah’s testimony, questioning the introduction of Hannah’s name since it was not mentioned in the original charges. Oyedepo countered, stating that although Hannah’s name was omitted, she was reportedly a beneficiary of the disputed funds, linking her as a relative of Emefiele who allegedly profited from the alleged misconduct.
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During cross-examination, Ogah clarified that he maintained records of Emefiele’s directives for reference purposes. When asked by the defence if he had shared these records with the EFCC, Ogah noted he had not shown any documents and that “99 percent” of Emefiele’s instructions were conveyed verbally.
The court case continues as the prosecution works to substantiate the allegations against Emefiele, with further details expected in subsequent hearings.
