Court admits WhatsApp conversation allegedly indicting Emefiele in $4.5bn fraud
Court admits WhatsApp conversation allegedly indicting Emefiele in $4.5bn fraud
An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Thursday admitted into evidence the WhatsApp conversation indicting the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, of $4.5 billion fraud and abuse of office.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Rahman Oshodi overruled the objections of the defence and admitted the WhatsApp conversation presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into evidence.
Oshodi admitted and labeled the documents as exhibit “G”.
The court also admitted some phones into evidence.
Emefiele is facing a 19-count charge bordering on receiving gratification and corrupt demands.
His co-defendant, Mr Henry Omoile, is facing a three-count charge for unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents.
The charges involved alleged transactions amounting to $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.
The EFCC Counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), continued with the testimony of Mr Alvan Grumnaan (EFCC), who provided other fresh insights into the evidence uncovered during investigations.
Grumnaan, continued his evidence by reading the Whatsapp conversation between Omoile, telling John Adetola in exhibit G, that he should give $400,000 to ‘oga’ (Emefiele).
He said: “During our investigation we asked the clarification from him, he explained that there is a conversation between him and Omoile on the phone regarding how to meet Ikechukwu-Ayoh to collect $400,000 on behalf of Emefiele.
“John Adetola confirmed that he went to Lekki in Lagos where he met John Ikechukwu-Ayoh, a personal assistant to the CBN governor to deliver the money.
“We further asked him what the message was.
He confirmed it was $400,000 and proceeded to the CBN office in Lagos where he handed it over to Emefiele in the CBN office”.
“We made a call to Ikechukwu-Ayoh who was working at that time in CBN to report to our office in Lagos where he was interviewed.”
The witness further told the court that Ikechukwu-Ayoh confirmed that Adetola came to his house and gave him the money to give to Emefiele.
According to the witness, it is not only transactions.
Grumnaan further told the court that there was another $200,000 Ikechukwu-Ayoh received from the same person and handed to Emefiele in his Lagos office.
“We invited Mr Victor Oyedua, the CBN contractor, who reported to our office and confirmed during the interview that he gave Ikechukwu-Ayoh the sum of $400,000 and $200,000 respectively to deliver to the first defendant.
“He confirmed he was a CBN contractor and two of his work hanging at that time with the CBN and he has not paid.
“The contractor was told he needed to settle some management to facilitate his money, the reason he gave out the sum of money and his statement was also recorded,” the witness said.
The prosecution further tendered some documents from the CBN as exhibits before the court.
The EFCC counsel said the document was an original letter from a company to the EFCC dated Feb. 24, 2024.
According to him, the document is evidence of what EFCC received.
“This is the public document EFCC received during the investigation.
“It is the primary evidence,” the prosecutor said.
However, the defence, led by Olalekan Ojo (SAN) and Mr Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN), objected to their admissibility, citing concerns over authenticity and proper certification.
The defence urged the court to reject all the photocopy documents as exhibits.
The court, however, overruled their objections and admitted the bundle of documents as exhibits H.
Also, John Adetola’s phone, MI10T, which was still on flight mode but switched on, was tendered and admitted as exhibits I.
The WhatsApp conversation between John Adetola and Omoile was analysed and presented in court.
The prosecution further tendered some statements of the second defendant made during investigation and urged the court to admit them as evidence.
The defence counsel, however, made an objection to it that the second defendant made the statement under duress.
The court, thereafter, adjourned the case until Nov. 21 for report of the parties on the agreement on forensic inspection.
The judge further adjourned the case until Dec. 2 for trial within trial. (NAN)
News
My Husband wants to have s3x with me eight times everynight – Housewife cries for help
My Husband wants to have s3x with me eight times everynight – Housewife cries for help
A Harare woman, Melocia Gwata, has successfully obtained a court-issued protection order against her husband, George Kusotera, following allegations of excessive sexual demands and physical abuse.
The case was heard at the Harare Civil Court before Magistrate Judith Taruvinga, where Melocia detailed the severity of her ordeal. She told the court that her husband had coerced her into sexual activity up to eight times a night, resorting to violence whenever she refused.
“He wants to have s3x every day and wakes me up in the middle of the night, even after we’ve been intimate countless times on the same day,” Melocia stated.
She further described how the abuse extended beyond physical coercion, with George allegedly threatening divorce and verbally assaulting her in front of their children.
“He has been assaulting me in front of our children, shouting obscenities and telling them I don’t deserve to be called their mother,” she added, highlighting the emotional toll the behaviour has taken on her and the family.
In response, George acknowledged his actions, apologising to his wife and attributing his conduct to love. “I did not realise I was making her uncomfortable. I apologise and promise not to physically abuse her anymore,” he told the court.
After hearing both sides, Magistrate Taruvinga granted Melocia a protection order, legally preventing her husband from further abuse and ensuring her safety.
News
Scores of terrorists neutralised after Major attacks on military base
Scores of terrorists neutralised after Major attacks on military base
Nigerian troops have successfully neutralised several terrorists and thwarted coordinated attacks in Adamawa and Borno States.
The Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, announced that the successes followed swift and decisive responses by soldiers to attempts by insurgents to overrun military formations in the North-East.
In a statement issued on Friday, Acting Media Information Officer of the Task Force, Lieutenant Solomon Atokolo, confirmed that the operations resulted in heavy casualties for the terrorists.
He explained that the first attack took place in the early hours of January 16, 2026, when insurgents targeted a patrol base at Sabon Gari in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Atokolo stated that troops under Sector 4 of Operation Hadin Kai quickly engaged the attackers and successfully repelled them. He added that reinforcements from Gulak and the Battalion Quick Reaction Force were promptly mobilised to support the operation, ensuring that the assault was decisively crushed.
“The terrorists were successfully repelled without any casualty to our troops or damage to equipment, forcing them to abandon the attack,” the statement said.
He added that security forces later carried out clearance operations in the surrounding area, scanning for improvised explosive devices and booby traps to guarantee the safety of both civilians and personnel.
In a separate incident on the same day, terrorists staged a large-scale, multi-directional attack on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Azir in Borno State.
The attackers attempted to breach the base’s defensive perimeter but were met with fierce resistance from troops. With support from the Air Component and other Nigerian Army aerial platforms, the soldiers unleashed sustained firepower that compelled the insurgents to retreat.
Although rocket-propelled grenade fire from the terrorists damaged some troop-carrying vehicles and partially affected the base’s CCTV control room, Atokolo said troops maintained full control of the situation and prevented any further breach.
The military spokesperson disclosed that several weapons and ammunition were recovered from the fleeing terrorists.
Items seized included a 60mm mortar tube, mortar bombs, locally fabricated explosives, heavy machine gun rounds, and hundreds of rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
The Joint Task Force commended the professionalism and resilience of the troops, reaffirming its commitment to sustaining operations aimed at restoring lasting peace and security to the North-East region.
Scores of terrorists neutralised after Major attacks on military base
Nigerian troops have successfully neutralised several terrorists and thwarted coordinated attacks in Adamawa and Borno States.
The Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, announced that the successes followed swift and decisive responses by soldiers to attempts by insurgents to overrun military formations in the North-East.
In a statement issued on Friday, Acting Media Information Officer of the Task Force, Lieutenant Solomon Atokolo, confirmed that the operations resulted in heavy casualties for the terrorists.
He explained that the first attack took place in the early hours of January 16, 2026, when insurgents targeted a patrol base at Sabon Gari in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Atokolo stated that troops under Sector 4 of Operation Hadin Kai quickly engaged the attackers and successfully repelled them. He added that reinforcements from Gulak and the Battalion Quick Reaction Force were promptly mobilised to support the operation, ensuring that the assault was decisively crushed.
“The terrorists were successfully repelled without any casualty to our troops or damage to equipment, forcing them to abandon the attack,” the statement said.
He added that security forces later carried out clearance operations in the surrounding area, scanning for improvised explosive devices and booby traps to guarantee the safety of both civilians and personnel.
In a separate incident on the same day, terrorists staged a large-scale, multi-directional attack on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Azir in Borno State.
The attackers attempted to breach the base’s defensive perimeter but were met with fierce resistance from troops. With support from the Air Component and other Nigerian Army aerial platforms, the soldiers unleashed sustained firepower that compelled the insurgents to retreat.
Although rocket-propelled grenade fire from the terrorists damaged some troop-carrying vehicles and partially affected the base’s CCTV control room, Atokolo said troops maintained full control of the situation and prevented any further breach.
The military spokesperson disclosed that several weapons and ammunition were recovered from the fleeing terrorists.
Items seized included a 60mm mortar tube, mortar bombs, locally fabricated explosives, heavy machine gun rounds, and hundreds of rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
The Joint Task Force commended the professionalism and resilience of the troops, reaffirming its commitment to sustaining operations aimed at restoring lasting peace and security to the North-East region.
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