The second prosecution witness, John Ayoh, a former Director of Information Technology at the Central Bank of Nigeria, told the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja that former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele reportedly accepted bribes before granting contracts.
Ayoh revealed this on Monday, April 29, while testifying before Justice Rahman Oshodi in the former Central Bank Governor's continuing trial on charges of abuse of power and taking payment in the amount of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.
Ayoh went on to say, "That is how he operates, he will not award contracts without collecting anything".
While being led in evidence by Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the witness described how he collected funds on behalf of the former CBN Governor.
He stated that the first money he collected was $400,000 from Emefiele's aide, John Adetola, who came to his house in Lekki to collect it for him.
Ayoh also told the court that he collected $200,000 for Emefiele from one of the CBN contractors and delivered it to the bank's headquarters in Tinubu, Lagos Island.
He stated that the money was in an envelope, and when the person who came to deliver the funds, Victor, arrived at the Bank, he (Ayoh) phoned the governor (Emefiele), who instructed him to collect the money from the vendor since he did not want to see any third parties.
Ayoh stated that when he entered the office to deliver the gift after collecting it, he noticed several bank CEOs, including the late Hebert Wigwe, waiting outside the governor's office to see him.
While being cross-examined by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Olalekan Ojo, who represented the former CBN Governor, the witness denied being a party to any crime, but acknowledged to inadvertently facilitating the commission of a crime.
He said, “I believe I did admit in my statement that I was forced to commit the crime.
“I don’t know the exact word I used in my statement, but I said we were all forced with tremendous pressure to bend the rules.”
The witness further stated that he did not indicate in his statement to the EFCC that the money was offered to influence contract awards.
However, he continued, "This is how he (Emefiele) operates." He will not issue contracts without receiving payment."