Dispatch Rider Testifies: How I handled cash deliveries for Emefiele
In a riveting testimony before the Special Offences Court in Lagos on Friday, dispatch rider Monday Osazuwa disclosed how he facilitated the collection of substantial sums of cash for the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Led by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Osazuwa detailed his involvement in multiple transactions totaling $3 million.
Osazuwa, who had been a dispatch rider at Zenith Bank since 2001 before transitioning to a contract staff member at the CBN in 2014, outlined his journey from serving as a dispatch rider to becoming a senior supervisor responsible for documenting and filing records in the CBN Governor’s office in Lagos.
“I performed as a senior supervisor, recording and filing with other official roles,” Osazuwa stated. He recounted an incident in 2020 when Emefiele instructed him to collect an envelope containing cash from an individual.
“When I got to the man’s office, I was given an envelope. I counted the money (in it), and was told to give it to my boss,” Osazuwa testified.
According to Osazuwa, Emefiele typically collected money personally when in Lagos. However, in his absence, Osazuwa was directed to hand over the cash to Emefiele’s associate, Henry Omoile. Additionally, Osazuwa mentioned being dispatched by Emefiele to MINL Limited during his tenure at Zenith Bank, where he would collect cheques and deliver them back to Emefiele.
Moreover, Osazuwa revealed that Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoile, resided in the former CBN governor’s home. When asked about rewards for his services, Osazuwa lamented, “I have never been rewarded, paid, or given anything. I was doing it out of faithfulness, and he knows it, but he never for once said, ‘Take this’.”
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During cross-examination by the defense counsel, Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, Osazuwa affirmed his employment history with Emefiele since 2002.
In an earlier proceeding, Justice Oshodi granted Emefiele bail in the sum of N50 million with stringent conditions. The judge mandated that the sureties must be gainfully employed, have a three-year tax payment history with the Lagos State Government, and be registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System.
Additionally, Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoil, was granted bail under different conditions.
The case, which involves 23 counts against Emefiele and three against his co-defendant, centers on allegations of abuse of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand, receiving fraudulently obtained property, and conferring corrupt advantage.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the case till April 29, 2024, for further trial and the hearing of an application for a closed section.
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