In a significant revelation during a court trial at the Ikeja Special Offences Court, John Ogah, a former secretary in the office of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), disclosed how former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, instructed him to transfer funds to a close relative. The funds in question were moved through three companies: Comec, Limelight, and Amswin Resources Limited.
Ogah’s testimony was part of the ongoing trial involving Emefiele and co-defendant Henry Omoile, who face charges of alleged abuse of office and money laundering. According to Naija News, during cross-examination, Ogah clarified that Emefiele and his wife, Margaret, were not shareholders in the three companies allegedly linked to them.
In response to questions posed by Emefiele’s lawyer, Olakekan Ojo, SAN, Ogah explained that despite the companies being associated with Emefiele, neither he nor his spouse held any shares. “The first defendant and his wife were not shareholders in the three companies linked to them,” Ogah stated in court.
He emphasized his understanding of beneficial ownership of shares, stressing that he had consistently documented records of such matters during his tenure, though he admitted to not presenting any formal shareholder documentation for Emefiele and his wife.
When asked if he had submitted any records to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during their investigations, Ogah confirmed that he had not. He also noted the absence of written instructions from Emefiele for about 99 percent of the directives he received, revealing that most of his duties were verbally assigned and unrecorded.
During further cross-examination by the second defense lead counsel, Kazeem Gbadamosi, SAN, Ogah confirmed that he serves as a director and shareholder in a construction company. However, he clarified that he is not a signatory to the company’s account, nor was his name included on the mandate form when the account was established with Zenith Bank.
The trial continues as both defense and prosecution examine Ogah’s statements on his former position, his dealings with the companies in question, and his relationship with Emefiele’s office.
