Victor EzejaGodwin Emefiele, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has been re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
According to a statement by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, Emefiele was on Friday, 19 January 2024, re-arraigned on 20 amended counts pertaining to the granting of corrupt advantages, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and deception to obtain $6,230,000.00 in US dollars.
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According to the statement, count One of the charges reads: “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in 2018 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did use your position as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa`adatu Ramallan Yaro, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of 37 (Nos.) Toyota Hilux Vehicles at the cost of Eight Hundred and Fifty-Four Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira (N854, 700,000.00) to April 1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa`adutu Ramallan Yaro is a director and you thereby committed an offence.”
Count 20 of the charges reads: “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele male, adult and Odoh Eric Ocheme (still at large) on or about the 8th day of February 2023 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court knowingly obtained by false pretence, the sum of Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand United States Dollar ($6,230,000.00) by falsely representing that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation vide a letter dated 26th January, 2023 with Ref No. SGFF.43/L.01/201 requested the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide a contingent logistic advance in the sum of Six Million, two Hundred and thirty thousand ($6,230,000.00) ‘in line with Mr President`s directive’ which representation you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence.”
Mathew Burkaa, SAN, Emefiele’s counsel, objected to the accusations before the defendant entered a “not guilty” plea, citing Section 221 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA 2015.
But Justice Muazu disregarded his objection, citing Section 396 of the ACJA and said that any objection regarding the allegations should be considered once the defendant entered a plea. Additionally, he suggested that the defence attorney submit a written objection.
Upon Emefiele’s “not guilty” plea to all the charges, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN asked the court for a trial date.
Justice Muazu adjourned the matter till February 12 and 13, 2024 for continuation of trial and sustained the bail earlier granted to the defendant.
The antigraft agency had on 17 November 2023 arraigned the former CBN governor before Justice Muazu on six-count charges bordering on procurement fraud to which he also pleaded “not guilty.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
