The 7th Prosecution witness, Mr John Adetola, testifying in the case against the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele has alleged that he collected the sum of $400,000 on behalf of Emefiele.

Adetola, who identified himself as an Executive Assistant to Emefiele, also disclosed how he handed over the money to his boss, Emefiele.

He gave the testimony on Thursday while answering questions from the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.

He told the trial judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi that the functions of his office includes managing office correspondences, attending to visitors and any other tasks as assigned by his boss.

He said these duties gave him direct access to Emefiele.

On the $400,000, Adetola testified that he was summoned from Ekiti, his new posting place to go pick up the money.

“In 2018, I can’t remember the date, the personal assistant to the CBN Gov in Abuja, Mr Eric Odoh sent me a message on WhatsApp that I should go and collect $400,000 from John Ayoh, the former director of ICT Dept. and give same to the former CBN Governor when he came to Lagos.

“I went to the house of John Ayoh at Lekki in Lagos. He gave me an envelope and I came back to the office, I gave it to the former CBN Governor,” he said

He said he communicated with Emefiele, mentioning some of Emefiele’s family members.

“I communicate with the former CBN Governor through telephone, office line, email and verbal communication.

“I know Mr. George, I know Mr Okanta. They are Mr Emefiele’s brothers. I know his wife, Mrs Margaret Emefiele. I also know the second defendant, Henry Omoile, he lived in Emefiele’s house in Lagos,” he added.

Adetola also told the court that the EFCC accessed his phone which had some office documents and he was questioned on them, after which they printed the documents.

He identified some of the documents showing his communication with John Ayoh and Odoh, stressing that he endorsed the documents as being printed from his mobile phone.

The EFCC prosecutor, Mr Oyedepo thereafter sought the permission of the court to tender the bundle of documents.

The counsel to Emefiele, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olaleko Ojo, raised objections to the admissibility of the documents but withdrew his objections when the counsel insisted that it was merely for identification purposes.

Counsel representing Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Omoile, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adeyinka Kotoye, however, maintained his objections to the admissibility of the documents stating that the documents had no basis in law.

In his response, Oyedepo insisted that the documents were relevant and would prove essential ingredients of the offence.

He insisted on tendering it for the purpose of identification.

After considering all the submissions, Justice Oshodi admitted the documents and marked it as for the purpose of identification.

He adjourned the case till December 10 for the cross examination of the witness.

The Senator representing Borno South at the senate, Ali Ndume, has frowned at the rushed passage of the tax reform bills, saying that the hurry by the presidency and some lawmakers to pass the bills looks suspicious.

The tax reform bills which passed for second reading at the Senate on Thursday have triggered controversies since it was sent to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, with Ndume maintaining strongest opposition against the bills.

The National Economic Council also advised President Tinubu to withdraw the bills, but the President said he preferred that they go through the processes.

The lawmaker, while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, maintained his position and insisted that it is better for the Presidency to take the advice of the National Economic Council to withdraw the bill.

“It is not that I am totally saying that we should throw away the baby with the bath water, but since the governors who are our leaders, the National Economic Council and many individuals have said that it is not that we should throw away the bills, no.

“Withdraw the bill, do more consultations and then bring the bill again. Why are they in a hurry,” Ndume queried.

Backing up his claim that there is a rush to pass the tax reform bills, Ndume gave an instance of the Petrol Industry Bill which he said is more important than the tax bill, adding that it took years before it was passed.

He recalled that the PIB was introduced to the National Assembly when he was in the House of Representatives, but wasn’t passed until years later when he had moved to the Senate.

The Senator said one of his grouses with the tax reform bills is the timing, noting that such bills shouldn’t be introduced when Nigerians are struggling to survive.

According to him, the opposition to the bills by him and some others is not because people do not want to pay taxes, but the wrong timing.

“I disagree with the timing because Nigerians are struggling to survive. Our forefathers were paying tax, in the North we pay taxes.

“So, it is not like we are running away from tax, we pay taxes, every responsible Nigerian will want to pay tax, but the timing is wrong,” he said.

Ndume, who said the best time to present the bills is when there is no hunger, likened the bills to giving someone something with a right hand and taking it back with the left hand.

He added that his opposition of the bills is because he does not want Tinubu to fail contrary to some insinuations that it is to hurt the President.

A local herbalist residing in Kuchibuyi Village in the FCT narrowly escapes death as he injured himself while testing the effectiveness of a self-made ‘bulletproof’ juju.

Confirming the incident to newsmen, the command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, said while testing the charm, Usman shot himself in the stomach with a shotgun.

Unfortunately, the charm failed to protect him, resulting in life-threatening injuries. Adeh said officers from the Byazhin Division were alerted and they visited the scene where they found Usman in critical condition.

‘’He was quickly transported to Kubwa General Hospital for emergency treatment and later transferred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital for further care.

In the aftermath, police conducted a thorough search of Usman’s home, recovering the homemade gun and an array of charms used in his reckless experiment. Investigations are ongoing, and Usman is expected to face charges for unlawful possession of firearms and attempted suicide under Section 231 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.’’ Adeh said

The police spokesperson mentioned that the Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Olatunji Disu, has condemned the incident, highlighting the dangers associated with illegal firearms. “This situation illustrates the serious risks of engaging in reckless behavior. We strongly advise the community to avoid such dangerous practices.”