The EFCC on Monday opened its case within the trial of the suspended Governor of the Central Financial institution (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on tender fraud costs at an FCT Excessive Courtroom in Abuja.
The anti-graft company had charged Emefiele with amended 20 counts of legal conspiracy, granting undue benefit and breach of belief, all of which he denied on Friday.
Emefiele was beforehand charged with six counts and first arraigned on November 28, 2023, earlier than the EFCC filed the amended cost necessitating a contemporary indictment.
He pleaded not responsible to the cost when it was learn to him.
The EFCC's first witness (PW 1), Onyeka Ogbu, CBN Deputy Director, Department Operations, mentioned underneath the steering of the EFCC's lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, that $6.2 million was saved apart for worldwide election observers.
“On January 8, 2023, a request for fee of $6.2 million was dropped at my consideration by the Banking Companies Division.
“It’s our job to pay, now we have no energy to approve this.
As soon as I had reviewed the paperwork and was glad, I took minutes and despatched it for processing and disbursement, which was complied with. ” he mentioned.
He prayed that the case can be put to relaxation in order that he may receive extra paperwork.
However the former CBN governor's lawyer, Matthew Burkaa, a SAN, refused the prosecutor's prayer.
He mentioned a delay can be higher for the prosecution to get all of the licensed copies and in addition for cross-examination of the witness.
After listening to their submissions, Decide Hamza Muazu adjourned the case to Tuesday for continuation of the trial.
In among the amended costs, EFCC alleged that in January 2023, Emefiele cast a doc titled: “RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS”, dated January 26, 2023 with ref.no. SGF.43/L.01/201 .
The EFCC mentioned Emefiele made the declare regardless of realizing it was false “and thereby dedicated an offense opposite to Part 1(1) of the Advance Payment Fraud and Different Fraud Associated Offenses Act, 2006, and punishable underneath part 1(3) of the identical Act.”
In response to the amended indictment marked CR/577/2023, on February 8, 2023, Emefiele connived with one Odoh Ocheme, who’s now on the run, to acquire $6.2 million from the CBN, alleging that this was finished by the SGF was requested. view a letter dated January 26, 2023 with ref. no. SGF.43/L.01/201.”
The anti-graft company alleged that the contract for the renovation of the CBN Governor’s Lodge, positioned at 2 Glover Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, was awarded to an organization referred to as Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Restricted, “through which the duo are administrators and majority members. shareholders.”
In response to the EFCC, the offense was opposite to the provisions of Sections 17, 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offenses Act, 2000, in addition to Sections 315, 363 and 364 of the Prison Code.
The anti-graft company had first charged Emefiele and Mrs Sa'adatu Yaro and an organization, April 1616 Funding Restricted, allegedly belonging to Yaro, in August for alleged violation of the Procurement Act in relation to the acquisition of some autos.
