Explosive! Insider Details $400,000 Cash Delivery To Ex-CBN Boss Emefiele

A key prosecution witness, John Adetola, testified on Monday at the Lagos Special Offences Court in Ikeja, admitting that he did not keep any records of delivering $400,000 in cash to the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Adetola, who formerly served as Emefiele’s executive assistant, revealed that during the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigation, he did not provide any call logs, messages, or receipts to verify his claim of handing over the money.

Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, face 19 charges involving alleged bribery and corrupt demands amounting to $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion.

While testifying before Justice Rahman Oshodi, Adetola explained that in 2018, he was directed by Eric Odoh—who allegedly contacted him via WhatsApp—to collect $400,000 from John Ayoh, the former CBN Director of Information Technology. He said he was instructed to deliver the cash to Emefiele in Lagos.

“In 2018, although I cannot recall the exact date, Mr. Eric Odoh sent me a WhatsApp message ordering me to collect $400,000 from John Ayoh and hand it over to the former CBN Governor when he visited Lagos. I went to Ayoh’s residence in Lekki, collected an envelope, and gave it to the governor,” Adetola told the court.

When asked if he documented the transaction, Adetola admitted he did not and stated, “I did not see any need for it.”

Under cross-examination by Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), Adetola confirmed that he is not facing prosecution and has not entered into any immunity agreement with the EFCC. He also acknowledged that his statement to the EFCC did not mention any direct communication with Emefiele about the $400,000.

“I disclosed all I knew regarding the alleged financial crimes to the EFCC,” he said.

Adetola also revealed that he spent 11 days in EFCC custody but was never brought face-to-face with Emefiele or John Ayoh during that time.

Despite the EFCC presenting WhatsApp printouts related to the transaction, Adetola maintained he had no evidence of any communication with Emefiele about the cash delivery.

During re-examination by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Adetola again stressed he saw no need to document the cash handover.

Holding a Higher National Diploma in Secretarial Studies and a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Adetola described his role as Emefiele’s executive assistant, reporting directly to him as head of the secretariat.

Further cross-examination by Yinka Kotoye (SAN), representing the second defendant Henry Omoile, confirmed Adetola’s lack of involvement with Omoile regarding the cash delivery.

After Adetola’s testimony, Justice Oshodi discharged the witness and adjourned the trial until Tuesday for continuation.