On Friday, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, faced arraignment at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, Abuja, on a 20-count charge related to corruption and forgery. Emefiele, attired in ash-colored trousers and a dark jacket, arrived at the court accompanied by his legal team and associates.
Initially accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of six counts involving N1.2 billion procurement allegations, Emefiele’s charges were later amended by the EFCC with the court’s approval. During the reading of the amended 20-count charge on Friday, the former CBN governor entered a plea of not guilty.
The revised charges against Emefiele encompassed accusations of forgery, conferring a corrupt advantage, and criminal breach of trust, among other offenses. Initially, the Federal Government had filed 19 charges related to procurement fraud against the ex-CBN boss, which were later reduced to six.
The amended charge specified that Emefiele allegedly obtained $6.2 million through false pretense, falsely representing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, a violation of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
In one of the counts, Emefiele was accused of conspiring with Eric Ocheme (still at large) to commit forgery, involving a document titled “Re: Presidential directive on foreign election observer missions,” dated January 26, 2023.
Additionally, Emefiele was accused of awarding a contract for the renovation of a portion of the CBN Governor’s residence in Koyi, Lagos, amounting to N99.8 million, to his wife, Omoile Margret, and brother-in-law, Omoile Macombo, thereby conferring a corrupt advantage on them.
Emefiele’s defense counsel, Mathew Bukka, SAN, expressed gratitude to the trial judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, for granting bail to the ex-CBN boss. Bukka emphasized that his client would return to face trial on the amended charge.
Bukka clarified that the old charge was superseded by the new one upon which Emefiele had entered a plea. The trial judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, adjourned the case to February 12 and 13, 2024, for the commencement of the trial.
