From Hadi Bawa In a significant legal development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) a...
From Hadi Bawa
In a significant legal development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, of forgery and corruption. Emefiele was arraigned at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, Abuja, facing a total of 20 charges.
Dressed in an ash-colored pair of trousers and a dark jacket, Emefiele, accompanied by his legal team, entered the court to answer the amended charges presented by the EFCC. Initially faced with six counts of N1.2bn procurement allegations, the charges were later expanded to 20.
The new charges include allegations of forgery, conferring a corrupt advantage, and criminal breach of trust. Emefiele pleaded not guilty to the amended 20-count charge, which now involves accusations of obtaining $6.2m through false representation.
The Federal Government had initially lodged 19 charges against Emefiele, primarily centered on procurement fraud, but these were subsequently reduced to six. The amended charge alleges that Emefiele obtained funds by falsely representing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
In a specific instance mentioned in the charge, Emefiele is accused of obtaining $6.23m by falsely representing a directive from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, a representati.
Furthermore, Emefiele is alleged to have conferred a corrupt advantage on his wife, Omoile Margret, and brother-in-law, Omoile Macombo, by awarding a contract for the external renovation of the CBN Governor’s residence in Lagos amounting to N99.8m. This action is said to violate Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
The case, presided over by Justice Hamza Muazu, has been adjourned until February 12 and 13, 2024, for the commencement of the trial. Emefiele's legal counsel, Mathew Bukka, expressed gratitude to the court for granting bail to his client and acknowledged the state's prerogative to amend charges. The defense is prepared to proceed with the trial on the amended charges in compliance with the rule of law.
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