753 Duplexes: Witness admits no direct dealings with Emefiele

During the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele, a prosecution witness admitted to having no direct contact with the former apex bank chief. Richard Agulu, who previously worked at Zenith Bank and is now with the Nigerian Communications Commission, testified that he disbursed over N1.6 billion allegedly linked to Emefiele.

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From the evidence I provided, I said I received the funds through his personal assistant (Eric Ocheme).

However, under cross-examination by Emefiele's counsel, Matthew Burkaa (SAN), Agulu clarified that he never received funds directly from Emefiele nor witnessed him hand over any money. Instead, Agulu stated that he received instructions through Emefiele's personal assistant, Eric Ocheme. "From the evidence I provided, I said I received the funds through his personal assistant (Eric Ocheme)," Agulu told the court.

Agulu further admitted that he did not possess Emefiele's telephone number and never spoke with him directly. He explained that any communication attributed to Emefiele came via his former aide. "I acted based on the defendant’s voice on the phone," Agulu said, though he later struggled to recall if his extra-judicial statement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) specified phone instructions or if they came solely through Ocheme.

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I have not seen the first defendant giving money to Mr Ocheme, but he gives instructions through his phone to carry out transactions.

The defense team attempted to introduce Agulu's statement to the EFCC to refresh his memory, sparking a debate with the prosecution over the document's admissibility. The prosecution initially objected but later withdrew its opposition, allowing the court to admit the statement. Agulu had previously testified that he disbursed the funds on Emefiele's instructions, conveyed through Ocheme, between 2020 and 2022, involving transactions with Ifeabigo Integrated Services and MG Properties Limited.

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I acted based on the defendant’s voice on the phone.