Politics
BREAKING: Witness Unveils Shocking Revelation: How Emefiele Sanctified Payment of $6,230,000 For Global Election Observers
BREAKING: Witness Unveils Shocking Revelation: How Emefiele Sanctified Payment of $6,230,000 For Global Election Observers ....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The First Prosecution Witness, PW1, in the ongoing trial of former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, Ogau Onyeka Michael, on Monday, February 12, 2024, disclosed to Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Maitama, Abuja, the manner in which the ex-CBN chief sanctioned the disbursement of a significant sum totaling $6,230,000 (Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand Dollars) in cash for international election observers during the momentous 2023 general election. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE
Michael unveiled these revelations while providing testimony during Emefiele’s trial. The former CBN luminary faces a litany of charges, comprising corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and obtaining by false pretenses amounting to the hefty sum of $6,230,000.00 (Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand United States Dollars).
In the courtroom, Michael, a former branch controller of the CBN, Abuja branch, guided by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, authenticated the documents submitted to him by the prosecution, affirming his involvement in their processing.
Detailing the sequence of events, Michael recounted how on January 8, 2023, a requisition for payment totaling $6,230,000 was routed to his office, accompanied by documentation for the fund’s allocation, duly endorsed by the then CBN helmsman, for the purpose of facilitating international election observers.
“My Lord, all requests for payments are usually channeled to the branch controller, which is my domain. On that particular day, my attention was drawn to a request amounting to $6,230,000 by my office assistant. The directive emanated from the banking services department, bearing the signature of the Director, Banking Services, instructing the branch controller to disburse the sum of $6,230,000 to an individual affiliated with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, complete with a specified name and identity card,” he articulated.
Moreover, Michael elucidated, “The documentation stipulated that the disbursement was intended for election observance, to be disbursed in cash at the naira equivalent of the stated amount. It further indicated that reimbursement should be facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Finance in the second quarter of 2023. Notably, the document featured the approval of the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria for the payment.”
Additionally, the memorandum bore the endorsement of the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, alongside that of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Having meticulously scrutinized the document and ascertained its compliance with requisite standards, I forwarded it to the head of the banking services unit for processing and subsequent payment. Mr. Williams, head of banking services, compiled and executed the payment on April 8, 2023, in cash. I can readily identify the document as it bears my signature,” he affirmed.
In his attempt to tender all six documents as exhibits, Oyedepo apprised the court that two of the documents, featuring the former SGF and the President’s approval, were photocopies. Therefore, he sought to tender the remaining four, which were original, while petitioning that the remaining two be tendered later in the course of the trial. He also petitioned the court for a 30-minute adjournment to acquire the original copies from the CBN complex.
Objecting to Oyedepo’s requests, Defence counsel, Mathew Bukka, SAN, contended that since the case was slated for February 12 and 13, he moved for an adjournment till February 13, arguing that the 30 minutes sought by Oyedepo wouldn’t suffice for the prosecution to procure the original documents from the CBN.
Following deliberation, Justice Muazu adjourned the proceedings till February 13, 2024, for the continuation of the trial.
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