Former CBN Director Implicates Emefiele in $600,000 Bribery Scandal

Ayoh, who spent eight years at the apex bank, claimed that he received the money in two envelopes, one containing $400,000 at his Lekki residence and another with $200,000 at the CBN's Tinubu Head Office

A former Director of Information Technology at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), John Ayoh, has testified against the embattled ex-CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, in an Ikeja Special Offences Court. Ayoh alleged that he collected $600,000 in two transactions on behalf of Emefiele as contract gratification.

Ayoh, who spent eight years at the apex bank, claimed that he received the money in two envelopes, one containing $400,000 at his Lekki residence and another with $200,000 at the CBN's Tinubu Head Office. He stated that Emefiele's assistant, John Adeola, brought the envelopes on behalf of the vendors implementing Netapp Storage Architectural and Infrastructural Services.

Under cross-examination, Ayoh admitted that his duties didn't include running errands for Emefiele, but he worked directly under him. He confirmed that Emefiele was not part of the Procurement and Support Services (PSS) department but a member of the Major Contract Tender Committee (MCTC).

Ayoh claimed he operated under duress and didn't take part in the decision-making process for the contract award. He stated that he was invited by the EFCC on February 17 and released on administrative bail.

The prosecution objected to the admission of Ayoh's statement as evidence, but Justice Rahman Oshodi allowed it. Emefiele's counsel requested that the defendant be released on self-recognition, pending the continuation of the case on May 3.

This testimony has implicated Emefiele in a bribery scandal, raising concerns about corruption at the highest levels of the CBN. As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how Emefiele will respond to these allegations and what consequences will follow for those involved.

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