Trial of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele resumed before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on Monday, with the lead witness, Mr. Onyeka Ogbu, narrating how the defendant approved the release of the sum of $6, 230, 000 to international election observers.
Ogbu, who is the first witness, PW-1, in the amended 20-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against Emefiele, told the court that he is a Deputy Director at the CBN, in charge of branch operations.
Led in evidence by EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the witness, identified some documents he said were in relation to the disbursement of the approved funds, to the foreign election observers.
He told the court that his attention was brought to the approval by one of the departments at the apex bank, adding that his own responsibility was to process the release of the requested fund in accordance with the due process.
“On January 8, 2023, the request for payment of $6, 230, 000 was brought to my attention by the Banking Services Department.
“Ours is to make payment. We do not have the power to approve.
“So, having gone through the documents and satisfied, I minuted on it and sent for processing and disbursement which was complied with,” the witness added.
Meanwhile, while the witness was identifying the documents, it was discovered that two of them were missing.
Consequently, the prosecution counsel requested for the trial to be stood down to enable him to get the missing documents.
However, Emefiele’s lawyer, Mr. Matthew Burkaa, SAN, argued that instead of a stand down, the matter should be adjourned till another date to enable the prosecution to put its house in order and for the witness to be cross examined.
Justice Hamza Muazu accordingly adjourned the matter till Tuesday for continuation of hearing.
It will be recalled that the anti-graft agency had on January 20, re-arraigned the former CBN boss on an amended charge that bordered on criminal conspiracy, forgery, breach of trust and the allegation that he conferred undue advantage on himself.
The EFCC had initially entered a six-count charge against the defendant over his alleged complicity in a N1.2billion procurement fraud.
In the amended charge, the agency accused the defendant of obtaining about $6.2million through false pretence, alleging that he falsely represented the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
He was accused of committing an offence that was in contravention of 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.
According to the amended charge, marked: CR/577/2023, Emefiele, on February 8, 2023, connived with one Odoh Ocheme, who is now on the run, to obtain $6.2m from the CBN, claiming that it was requested by the SGF “vide a letter dated 26th January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.”
EFCC alleged that the defendant, in January 2023, forged the document titled: “RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS.”
It further alleged that contract for the renovation of the CBN Governor’s lodge, located at No. 2 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, was awarded to a company named Messrs Architekon Nigeria Limited, wherein Emefiele’s wife and brother in-law, were directors and majority shareholders.
Offences the defendant committed, according to the EFCC, contravened sections 17, 19 of the corrupt practices and other related offences Act, 2000, as well as sections 315, 363 and 364 of the penal code.
The court had on November 22, 2023, granted Emefiele bail to the tune of N300m with two sureties in the like sum.
The court stressed that the sureties must be resident within the FCT Abuja and owners of landed properties within the Maitama District.
Besides, the court seized the travelling documents of the defendant.
One of the counts in the amended charge, read: “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in March 2020 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 your wife, Omoile Margret, and brother-in-law Omoile Macombo, by awarding a contract for the external renovation of the CBN Governor’s residence lying, being and situate at No. 2 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, in the sum of N99.826m to Messrs Architekon Nigeria Limited, a company wherein the duo are directors and majority shareholders and you thereby committed an offence.”
