*Meet brick wall
*Former CBN governor’s sin beyond forgiveness – Presidency source
By Dauda Ismail
As the corruption case against the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria’, CBN, Godwin Emiefele continues at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, and haven seen that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, appears to have an airtight case against him, his loyalists have begun to lobby President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to grant him pardon.
It would be recalled that at the last adjourned date of the trial on May 9, witnesses tendered.more documents, revealing more alleged secret dealings against Emefiele.
The bundles of documents were tendered against Mr Emefiele through the third prosecution witness, a Compliance Officer with Zenith Bank, Mr Clement Ngolu, by the EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The documents were admitted in evidence following no objections from the first defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), and the second defence counsel, Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN).
The trial judge, Rahman Oshodi, admitted the original copies of Zenith Bank account opening package, statement of account of Limelight Multidimensional Services Ltd., sent to the EFCC in evidence.
“I have read the documents dated March 2024, and I admit the original certified copy of the bundles of documents which include account opening package, statement of accounts into evidence and are marked as Exhibit A,” Justice Oshodi said.
Mr Ngolu, in his evidence, said his department responds to regulators and law enforcement agencies in order to ensure that the bank’s activities were in line with banking policies and regulations, adding that his department worked with agencies such as the EFCC, the Nigeria Police, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The witness said that his department in 2024 got a request from the EFCC to furnish them with statements of accounts of Limelight and two other accounts.
“The documents we sent to the EFCC was duly signed by the staff of the bank.
“The process of generating the statement was through our computer system which was in good condition.
“The documents were printed out from the company’s computer which was working well and the documents were in the bank’s custody,” the witness said.
The defence, however, said they had no question for the witness.
Also, a former Director of Information Technology of CBN, John Ayoh, under further cross-examination, said he had a confrontation with Mr Emefiele because he asked him to do something wrong.
The witness who further confirmed that he was sidelined by the embattled governor added that his being sidelined made him not to have any relationship with him.
“I was not happy being unpopular with the former CBN governor but on a number of occasions, I signed contract letters to vendors.
“While I was a director with the CBN, my loyalty was to the bank and the Nigerian nation and my relationship with Emefiele was only formal and based on instructions,,” he said.
The fourth witness, a contractor, in his evidence, testified about how he was allegedly pressurised by the central bank management to pay $600,000 for the contract which he had executed.
Mr Ayoh, the former CBN director of information technology, had on April 29, narrated before the court how he allegedly collected $600,000 for contract gratification for Mr Emefiele.
Owing to these developments in the case before the court, Loyalists of Emiefele who impeccable sources in the know of events disclosed as some top Chief Executive Officers, CEOs from.the private sector, top clergymen, and the traditional ruler of Emefiele’s village are lobbying seriously both directly and by proxy, for a soft landing for the embattled former governor.
According to a top Presidency source who spoke with this medium preferring to be anonymous since he is not authourised to speak on the matter said: “I can categorically tell you that top clergymen, very notable CEOs from the private sector and even the king of Emiefele s village have been lobbying for pardon or a soft landing for him.
“But all their pleas and entities have all met a brick wall as Emiefele s sins are beyond pardon and Mr President is of the opinion that the matter should take it’s course in the court of law. So whatever decision or judgement delivered by the court should hold sway.
“Mr President is also of the opinion that since Emiefele is being defended by competent lawyers, the matter should be left for the courts and he will not interfere with the decisions of the judiciary.
“So I suppose even them know that it is the judiciary before which the matter is that would decide his fate based on the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The EFCC had on April 8, arraigned Mr Mr Emefiele on 23 counts charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, procurement fraud and conspiracy to commit a felony.
The charge was formerly six counts.
