The Federal Government is poised to arraign the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, on Friday at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on an amended 20-Count Charge.
This move comes as Channels Television’s Judiciary Correspondent, Shola Soyele, obtained a copy of the amended charge, dated January 17, 2024, filed by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo, and three others on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Initially faced with a six-count charge of alleged fraudulent procurement by the government in August 2023, Emefiele had pleaded not guilty, subsequently being granted bail by Justice Hamza Muazu on November 22, 2023.
Now, the fresh arraignment, confirmed by EFCC prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo, is set to take place before Justice Muazu, with the amended charge expanded from six to 20 counts.
This increase is attributed to new counts relating to the alleged fraudulent award of contracts to Emefiele’s wife, Omoile Margret, his brother-in-law, Omoile Macombo, and other associates.
The amended charge encompasses various counts, including conspiracy to commit forgery, conferring corrupt advantage, and criminal breach of trust, among others.
For instance, Count 1 addresses the alleged conferring of a corrupt advantage, stating that Emefiele, in 2019, utilized his position as CBN Governor to award a contract for the supply of 37 Toyota Hilux Vehicles at the cost of N854,700,000 to April 1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which a CBN staff member, Sa’aclatu Ramallan Yaro, is a Director.
Count 7 of the charge accuses Emefiele of conferring corrupt advantage in December 2014, awarding a contract for the total renovation of the CBN Governor’s Residence to Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Limited, a company where his wife and brother-in-law are directors and majority shareholders.
The charge also includes Count 17, which pertains to conspiracy to commit felony, specifically forgery, involving Emefiele and Odoh, Eric Ocheme (still at large), in January 2023.
This legal development follows the Federal Capital Territory High Court’s approval on Thursday of Emefiele’s request to travel out of Abuja.
However, the court has imposed a restriction that mandates Emefiele to stay within the country, adhering to the bail terms that confine his movements to the Federal Capital Territory.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Emefiele’s case brings attention to the intricacies of alleged financial impropriety within the CBN, raising questions about governance, transparency, and ethical conduct within vital institutions.
The outcome of this legal saga will undoubtedly have implications for both Emefiele’s personal and professional standing and the broader discourse on accountability in public service.
