How bank waived due process for Emefiele’s multi-billion naira transactions – Witness

Premium Times NigeriaIndependentCenter20 hr. ago

A Zenith Bank official testified before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja about how due process was bypassed for transactions involving former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele. Richard Agulu, a prosecution witness, stated that senior bank officials, including Macaulay Ihekoronya, authorized waivers for depositing and withdrawing billions of naira on Emefiele's behalf. Agulu admitted to making such decisions independently in some cases, which raised questions from the defense about why he wasn’t being prosecuted for potential breaches of banking procedures. Emefiele, who previously led Zenith Bank before becoming CBN governor, was removed from office in 2023 amid allegations of fraud and corruption. He faces multiple charges, including criminal breach of trust and unlawful possession of assets worth ₦7.8 billion. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleges that Emefiele used proxy accounts to hide illicit funds and acquired a property in Abuja with 753 housing units. While Emefiele denies wrongdoing, the EFCC has obtained a court order to forfeit the property, though he is appealing the decision.

Bias read (Center): The article presents testimony from a prosecution witness regarding alleged irregularities in financial dealings involving a high-profile political figure. However, it does not overtly favor one side over the other, nor does it include significant editorial commentary. The framing remains largely客观,

The PunchIndependentCenteryesterday

In the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele, a key prosecution witness named Richard Agulu has admitted during cross-examination that he had no direct dealings with Emefiele. Agulu, who previously testified to having disbursed over N1.6 billion linked to Emefiele, clarified that all communications were conducted through Emefiele's personal assistant, Eric Ocheme, and that he never saw Emefiele give money directly. He explained that he followed instructions received via phone calls, though he could not confirm if these were direct calls or relayed through Ocheme. The defense attempted to introduce Agulu's prior statement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to refresh his memory, leading to a legal debate over the admissibility of the document. The prosecution eventually withdrew its objection, allowing the statement to be admitted as evidence. This development adds complexity to the case, which involves allegations of unlawful acquisition of property.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced account of the legal proceedings against Godwin Emefiele, focusing on the testimony of a witness rather than taking a clear ideological stance. While the subject matter is politically charged due to the involvement of high-profile figures and corruption allegations,報導