“I Did Not See Any Need For It”: Emefiele’s Ex-Assistant Explains Why He Never Documented $400,000 Delivery

NAIJAONPOINT , Mr. John Adetola, who served as Emefiele’s executive assistant, made the denial on Monday while testifying before Justice Rahman Oshodi at the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja.

Emefiele and his co-defendant, Mr. Henry Omoile, are standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on abuse of office and fraudulent transactions involving approximately $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion.

During cross-examination, Adetola firmly rejected suggestions by Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, that he may have struck a deal with the anti-graft agency to escape prosecution. He also admitted that he never documented a $400,000 cash transaction he claimed to have carried out on behalf of Emefiele in 2018.

According to Adetola’s earlier testimony, he received a WhatsApp message from one Eric Odoh instructing him to collect $400,000 from the Lekki residence of another individual, John Ayoh, and deliver it to the then-CBN Governor in Lagos. However, under questioning, Adetola acknowledged that there were no phone records or chats presented by him to the EFCC to corroborate this transaction.

“I kept no records of the transaction and never mentioned any WhatsApp messages or phone calls with Mr. Emefiele regarding the funds in my written statement to the EFCC,” Adetola stated.

He added that he was detained by the EFCC for 11 days but was never confronted directly with Emefiele or Ayoh during the course of the investigation. He maintained that he cooperated fully with investigators.

Adetola further explained that in his role as executive assistant, he was responsible for managing Emefiele’s secretariat, handling official correspondence, and reporting directly to him. He also disclosed that he holds a Higher National Diploma in Secretarial Studies and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management.

Under re-examination by EFCC lead prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Adetola was asked why he failed to document the $400,000 transaction. He replied, “I did not see any need for it.”

Adetola also confirmed during cross-examination by Yinka Kotoye, SAN, counsel for co-defendant Henry Omoile, that he had no dealings whatsoever with Omoile regarding the disputed funds.

Justice Oshodi discharged NAIJAONPOINT following his testimony and adjourned the matter to today, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, for continuation of trial.