A socio-cultural group, Arewa Youth Movement, has claimed that the admittance of the prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the trial of the immediate-past Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, that he demanded and received bribes from contractors, was an evidence that Emefiele is being persecuted and witch-hunted.
Recall that a witness, a retired Director in the IT Department of CBN, Mr John Ayoh, made the admittance under cross examination by Emefiele’s lawyer, Mr Olalekan Ojo, SAN on Thursday.
Emefiele is standing trial on a 23-count charge of abuse of office and fraud to the tune of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was admitted to bail to enable him adequately defend the charges
Ayoh admitted that he demanded and received a bribe from Mr. Victor Onyejuiwa. He was, however, unable to explain or connect Mr. Emefiele with the bribery activities.
Reacting to the court proceedings, Arewa Youth leader, Comrade Isa Galadima, in a statement, said the revelations from the court sitting on Thursday, was a proof of what they had been saying, which is that the former apex bank governor was being persecuted and witch-hunted over allegations he’s innocent of.
The group, therefore, called for the case to be discontinued and Emefiele freed.
The group said, “The admittance of the prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in the trial of immediate past Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, that he demanded and received bribes from contractors, is evidence that Emefiele is being persecuted and witch-hunted.
“We knew for months and have been appealed for this case to be discontinued. Emefiele is innocent, this a clear witch hunt. The relentless persecution, faceless allegations, this matter is gradually becoming the greatest political witch-hunt in Nigeria’s history. We appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the security agencies to discontinue this case and free an innocent man.”