Alleged Procurement Fraud: Court Adjourns Emefiele’s Trial Till Oct. 22

 By Abimbola Ogunnaike

A Federal Capital Terrritory, FCT, High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Hamza Muazu on Tuesday, 25 June, 2024 adjourned until 22 October, 2024 the trial of the suspended governor of Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), Godwin Emefiele over alleged procurement fraud.

Emefiele is charged with an alleged 20-count amended charge, preferred against him by the Economic and financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

He was alleged to have engaged in criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and obtaining money by false pretence, when he served as the apex bank’s boss.

Specifically, the EFCC alleged that the former CBN boss forged a document titled: Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions dated January 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 and purportedly to have emanated from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Besides he is also accused of using his office as CBN governor to confer unfair and corrupt advantage on two companies; April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.

Emefiele in the amended charge was alleged to have, on 8 February, 2023,knowingly obtained, by false pretence, 6.2 million dollars by falsely representing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation via a letter dated January 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF 43/L.01/201 requested the CBN to provide a contingent logistic advance in the sum of $6,230,000 “in line with Presidential directive.”

Justice  Muazu adjourned until October 21 after hearing from the testimony of the 9th prosecution witness (PW9).

He further adjourned until July 8 for hearing of Emefiele ‘s application seeking for the release of his passport to enable him to attend to medical appointments.

Earlier, the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, brought two witnesses PW8 and PW9.

Umar Tilde the 8th prosecution witness (PW8) works with Zenith Bank as the Compliance Office.

He told the court that EFCC, requested for account opening documents, statement of account, and certificate of identification for the account of Emefiele.

On whether Emefiele had only one account with the bank, he said the letter from the EFCC had different account numbers.

The prosecution’s 9th witness is Mrs Abibia Ockiya-Ogeleye , a lawyer Principal Partner A & A Legal Consociate.

She handled the incorporation matters at the CAC for Architkun Nigeria Ltd.

According to the witness, prior to 2021, the company had two directors.

The witness added that all she did was given to her by Esther Oyeladun.

After her testimony, Matthew Burkaa, SAN, Emefiele’s counsel told the court that his client applied for the release of his passport to travel for a medical appointment.