John Ayoh, a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Director of Information and Technology, in a session at the Ikeja Special Offences Court, revealed how he received $600,000 from two contractors on behalf of the embattled former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele.
Under cross-examination by Olalekan Ojo (SAN), representing Emefiele, Ayoh provided insight into the transactions before Justice Rahman Oshodi.
Emefiele had contested the court’s jurisdiction to try him for alleged abuse of office and multibillion-dollar fraud. Ojo argued in a motion dated April 24 that the court lacked the constitutional footing to hear the case.
In response, EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) urged the court to prioritize legality over objections aimed at delaying trial proceedings.
While Justice Oshodi deferred ruling on jurisdiction, he ordered that defendants one through eight testify publicly, following the withdrawal of an application by Oyedepo for Emefiele’s arraignment to be conducted in camera.
Ayoh, the second Prosecution Witness (PW2), clarified that he did not directly report to Emefiele but to former CBN Deputy Governor Adebayo Adelabu. He recounted receiving $400,000 in cash at his Lekki residence and providing his address and phone number to the courier via WhatsApp.
