As the trial of the embattled and suspended governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, over alleged corruption continues, a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Victor Onyejiuwa, has agreed to have given bribes to a Director in the CBN, John Ayo, and not to the former governor himself.
Onyejiuwa, who made the disclosure at the continuation of the cross examination by Emefiele’s counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), said he was very aware that what he did was against the law in Nigeria.
The witness was also asked if he knew the implications of telling lies to the court. He consented and confirmed that he received invitation from Ayo to come along with him to EFCC to provide details about the money he paid to him in 2018.
Onyejiuwa also said he bribed the director because he wanted to be paid his money after completing a contract for the CBN. Admitting further upon cross-examination that, after receiving his payment in December 2018, he could have reported the act of bribery to the Police, EFCC, and ICPC.
The witness admitted that, though he knew that he could have reported the wrong doing to the law enforcement agencies, he did not report the action. Rather, he chose to join Ayo at the EFCC in May 2024 to report the bribery.
Onyejuiwa was further interrogated by Ojo (SAN), asking if he had written in his witness statement that the Management of the CBN, which he referred to as demanding the bribe, was Godwin Emefiele. He responded that he was not.
The Counsel to Emefiele also asked Onyejiuwa whether he wrote any letter to the CBN demanding the payment of contract proceeds for jobs done complaining about the delay in payment.
In response to Ojo, the EFCC witness confirmed that he only interacted with John Ayo and all contracts awarded were signed by him.
Asked if Emefiele directly requested for money from him as pre-condition for the payment of his contract fees, but he answered in the negative (no) and confirmed that he never (at any time) in the course of his transactions with CBN ever met or spoke with Emefiele.
Asked whether he executed more jobs at the CBN after Ayo retired from CBN, the witness said he executed more jobs at CBN and was paid in due time without any demand for gratification from anyone in CBN, despite the fact that Emefiele was still the Governor of the apex Bank at that time.
The witness finally confirmed that he did not show the EFCC any communication between Ayo and Emefiele, where the latter made any demand for bribes in respect of any contracts awarded to him.
