A former secretary in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor’s Office, John Ogah, testified yesterday before an Ikeja Special Offences Court, stating that ex-CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele and his wife, Margaret, were not shareholders in three companies allegedly linked to them.
Ogah’s testimony came during the trial of Emefiele and Henry Omoile, who are facing charges of abuse of office and money laundering.
Testimony Under Cross-Examination
During cross-examination by Emefiele’s counsel, Olakekan Ojo, SAN, Ogah affirmed:
“The first defendant and his wife were not shareholders in the three companies linked to them.”
Ogah further explained the concept of beneficial ownership of shares, emphasising that such arrangements are typically documented. However, he acknowledged that he did not present any documents indicating Emefiele or his wife held shares in the companies in question—Comec, Limelight, and Amswin Resources Limited.
Records and Instructions
Ogah, who served as secretary to Emefiele, disclosed that he maintained records during his tenure but did not provide any of these to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) while in custody.
He also noted that the majority of instructions he received from Emefiele—around 99%—were verbal, with no written documentation.
Business Interests
Under cross-examination by the second defence counsel, Kazeem Gbadamosi, SAN, Ogah confirmed his role as a director and shareholder in a construction company. While the company held an account with Zenith Bank, Ogah stated he was not a signatory and his name did not appear on the mandate form associated with the account.
The trial continues, as the court scrutinises the allegations of financial impropriety against the former CBN governor.
