The Federal Government has presented six charges against the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, relating to alleged procurement misconduct.
Originally facing 20 counts totaling N6.5 billion, the charges have now been narrowed down to six, amounting to N1.6 billion. Emefiele is the sole defendant in this revised charge.
During a court appearance on Friday, the ex-CBN governor sought bail and pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge presented against him.
Emefiele arrived promptly for the start of the day’s proceedings.
According to the revised charge sheet, the accusations continue to revolve around procurement fraud. The Federal Government asserts that Emefiele illicitly acquired 43 vehicles, valued at N1.2 billion, between 2018 and 2020. Additionally, he faces allegations of awarding a contract for the purchase of 37 Toyota Hilux Vehicles, totaling N854 million
Count one read, “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 Toyota Hilux Vehicles at the cost of N854,700,000 only to April 1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro is a director and thereby committed an offense.”
In the second count, Emefiele was accused of using his position to corruptly confer an advantage on Yaro, “a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of one Toyota Avalon at the cost of N99,900,000 only to April 1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro Director and thereby committed an offense.”
He also faced an accusation of providing an illicit advantage, contravening Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, by granting a contract for the supply of a Toyota Landcruiser V8 to April 1616 Investment Ltd. in 2019, with a value of N73 million.
The fourth count pertained to the improper award of a Toyota Landcruiser V8, valued at N73,800,000, to April 1616 Investment Ltd.
The Federal Government additionally charged the former CBN governor with unlawfully awarding a contract to Yaro for the supply of two Toyota Hilux Shell Specification Vehicles at the cost of N44,200,000 in 2020.
Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has postponed the case to November 22 for a decision on Emefiele’s bail application and scheduled the trial to commence on November 28.
Meanwhile, he directed that Emefiele be held in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre during this period.