The Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, is on trial for procurement fraud in an FCT High Court in Abuja. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, began its case on Monday.
Emefiele was accused by the anti-graft agency of 20 modified counts of criminal conspiracy, giving undue benefit, and breach of trust, among other offenses. On Friday, he refuted all of the charges.
A re-arraignment was required after Emefiele was initially charged with six counts and arraigned on November 28, 2023, after the filing of additional charges by the EFCC.
After reading the charge, he entered a not guilty plea.
6.2 million dollars were set aside for foreign election observers, according to Deputy Director of CBN branch operations and EFCC First Witness (PW 1) Onyeka Ogbu, who was testifying on behalf of the organization with Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
“On January 8, 2023, the Banking Services Department brought to my notice a request for payment of 6.2 million dollars.
“We do not have the authority to authorize; ours is to make payment.
“After reviewing the documents and feeling satisfied, I sent it for processing and disbursement, and it was received,” the man stated.
In order to get further papers, he begged for the issue to be placed on hold.
However, SAN Matthew Burkaa, the former CBN governor’s attorney, turned down the petition of the prosecution.
He stated that it would be preferable to postpone the trial so that the prosecution could obtain all certified true copies and allow the witness to face cross-examination.
Justice Hamza Muazu deferred the case to Tuesday in order to continue the trial after hearing their arguments.
According to the EFCC, Emefiele allegedly falsified a document headed “RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS,” dated January 26, 2023, with reference number SGF.43/L.01/201, in some of the revised accusations.
“And you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act,” the EFCC stated, citing Emefiele’s admission that he knew it was fraudulent.
Emefiele conspired with an Odoh Ocheme, who is currently fugitive, on February 8, 2023, to get $6.2 million from the CBN, according to the revised charge designated CR/577/2023. Emefiele claimed that the SGF had demanded the money “vide a letter dated January 26 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.”
The anti-graft agency said that Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Limited, a business “wherein the duo are directors and majority shareholders,” was given the contract to renovate the CBN Governor’s lodge, which is situated at No. 2 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, sections 17 and 19, as well as sections 315, 363, and 364 of the criminal code, were all broken, according to the EFCC.