The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja. This development occurred on Friday, January 19, 2024, as Emefiele faced a 20-count amended charge.
The charges encompass a range of offenses, including the conferment of corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and obtaining by false pretenses. The alleged financial misconduct amounts to Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand United States Dollars ($6,230,000.00).
One of the charges, Count One, accuses Emefiele of utilizing his position as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2018 to confer a corrupt advantage on Saadatu Ramallan Yaro, a CBN staff. The charge alleges that Emefiele awarded a contract for the supply of 37 Toyota Hilux Vehicles to April 1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which Saadatu Ramallan Yaro serves as a director.
Count 20 of the charges relates to Emefiele and Odoh Eric Ocheme (still at large), who are accused of knowingly obtaining the sum of Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand United States Dollars ($6,230,000.00) by false pretense. The prosecution contends that they falsely represented that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, through a letter dated 26th January, 2023, requested the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide a contingent logistic advance, in line with the President’s directive.
Before entering his plea of “not guilty,” Emefiele’s counsel, Mathew Burkaa, SAN, objected to the charges, invoking Section 221 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. However, Justice Muazu overruled the objection, citing Section 396 of ACJA, and advised the defense counsel to submit objections in writing after the plea.
Upon Emefiele’s plea, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, requested a trial date. Justice Muazu subsequently adjourned the matter till February 12 and 13, 2024, for the continuation of the trial, maintaining the bail granted to the defendant.
It is noteworthy that Emefiele had previously been arraigned on November 17, 2023, before Justice Muazu, facing six-count charges related to procurement fraud, to which he had pleaded “not guilty.”
