During the trial at the Lagos High Court Sitting in Ikeja, the second prosecution witness, former Director of Information Technology of the Central Bank of Nigeria, John Ayoh, alleged that former CBN governor Godwin Emefiele accepted bribes before awarding contracts. Ayoh made this assertion on Monday, April 29, before Justice Rahman Oshodi.
Under the guidance of Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Senior Advocate of Nigeria Rotimi Oyedepo, Ayoh recounted instances where he collected sums of money on behalf of Emefiele. He stated that Emefiele’s assistant, John Adetola, came to his house in Lekki to collect $400,000 for the former CBN governor. Additionally, Ayoh mentioned that he collected $200,000 for Emefiele from a CBN contractor at the bank’s office in Tinubu, Lagos Island. Ayoh emphasized that Emefiele preferred not to directly handle such transactions and instructed him to collect the funds on his behalf.
During cross-examination by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Olalekan Ojo, representing Emefiele, Ayoh denied direct involvement in any criminal activity but acknowledged facilitating it unknowingly. He mentioned feeling pressured to bend the rules but clarified that he did not explicitly state in his statement to the EFCC that the money influenced contract awards. However, Ayoh reiterated his claim that Emefiele would not award contracts without receiving something in return.
