How I banked billions in cash for Emefiele — Witness

A former staff member of Zenith Bank on Tuesday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that he handled billions of naira in cash deposits on behalf of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, acting on instructions allegedly conveyed through the ex-CBN chief’s personal assistant.

The witness, Richard Agulu, testified before Justice Yusuf Halilu during the continuation of Emefiele’s trial over an alleged ₦7.8 billion fraud being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Agulu, the prosecution’s third witness, said while serving at Zenith Bank, he regularly received cash from Emefiele’s personal assistant, Eric Ocheme, and deposited the funds into the accounts of Ifeabigo Integrated Services and Kelvito Integrated Services or kept them in the bank’s vault.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Mathew Burkaa (SAN), the witness said he acted based on instructions relayed by Ocheme over the phone, adding that Emefiele directed how the funds should be handled.

He told the court that although the transactions followed standard banking procedures, he had verbal approval from his superiors to manage the defendant’s banking activities.

“For every transaction, I followed normal banking procedures. I was given a verbal waiver by my superiors to attend to the defendant’s transactions,” Agulu said, adding that he could not disclose the identities of the officials who granted the approval.

The witness further testified that withdrawals from the accounts were authorised by the legitimate account owners and signatories.

Agulu also told the court that he supervised the transfer of ₦1.6 billion to MG Properties Limited on Emefiele’s instruction through Ocheme.

Justice Halilu adjourned the case until November 3, 4 and 5, 2026, for the continuation of trial.

Emefiele is facing an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery and unlawful possession of properties allegedly linked to proceeds of crime amounting to about ₦7.83 billion. He has denied the allegations.