The cats just leaping coming out of the bag over the rot that prevailed in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with a former Director of Information Technology of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. John Ayoh, disclosing how he collected $600,000 allegedly for the former governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.
Two weeks ago, another staff told how he allegedly collected $3million cash at different times for Emefiele.
On Monday, April 29, Ayoh told an Ikeja Special Offences Court that he received a letter from the anti-graft agency concerning two transactions which he facilitated through Emefiele.
Ayoh, Head of Procurement and Support Services (PSS) Department, told the court that the first envelope containing $400,000 was brought to his house in Lekki while he received the second envelope containing $200,000 at the Lagos Head Office of the CBN.
Ayoh said that he was vested with powers to receive applications for award of contracts to select successful bidders.
According to him, the first leg of the transaction was at his residence in Lekki Phase One while the second envelope money he received occurred at the Tinubu Head Office of the CBN.
He said: “The man to deliver the second transaction came to our office in Lagos and I informed the governor but he said he did not want to see a third party that I should bring the envelope myself.
“I complied with the instruction and went to his office and delivered it.
“Mr John Adeola was the one I sent my address to and he came to my house.
“He is the governor’s assistant and the total money I received on his behalf was $400,000 and $200,000, respectively.”
He informed the court that the vendors who allegedly brought the envelopes with money were in charge of the implementation of Netapp Storage Architectural and Infrastructural Services.
Under cross-examination by the first defence counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN), he told the court that his schedule of duties did not include running errands for Emefiele but he directly worked under him.
Ayoh confirmed to the court that Emefiele was not a member of the PSS but a member of the Major Contract Tender Committee (MCTC).
He added that he had never facilitated in the commission of any crime.
Ojo asked if the witness wrote in his statement that he was forced to aid or abet the commission of accepting gratification.
“I do not remember the exact word that I used and I did not write in my statement that I opened the two envelopes on the two occasions to check the total sum of money.
“I wrote a statement and it implied that the money in the envelopes was given to me to influence the award of contract.
“I did not take part in the decision of the MCTC but I recommended that the award be given and I was not bribed.
“I was invited by the EFCC on February 17, I was not arrested but I returned home on administrative bail.”
Justice Rahman Oshodi was to later admit the statement of the witness after an exchange of arguments between prosecution and defence counsels.
The witness told the court that the instructions from Emefiele indicated that he bent rules.
The judge adjourned the case until May 3 for continuation of cross-examination.