Emefiele pleads not guilty to 20-count amended charge

Former Governor of the Central Bank (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has pleaded not guilty to the 20-count amended charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Emefiele appeared before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court today following an amendment to his charge filed by the anti-corruption agency yesterday. 

According to the amended charge marked CR/577/2023, Emefiele allegedly connived with one Odoh Ocheme on February 8, 2023, to obtain $6.2m from the CBN, stating that the SGF requested it through a letter dated 26th January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.

The EFCC said Emefiele committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, by releasing the sum of $6.230.000.00 as “contingent logistics” while knowing the claim was false. It said Emefiele’s actions were punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.

Also, in the amended charge, the agency alleged that on 26th January 2023, Emefiele forged a document marked “RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS,” with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 and conniving with Ocheme, who is on the run to commit the illegal forgery.

Additionally, Emefiele was accused of giving undue advantage to his wife, Omoile Margret, and his brother-in-law, Omoile Macombo, by awarding a contract for the renovation of a portion of the CBN Governor’s residence in Lagos to the tune of N99.8m. 

The EFCC alleged that the 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 the duo are directors and majority shareholders.” The agency said Emefiele’s alleged actions contravene section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

In the Original charge filed against Emefiele in August 2023, the former CBN Governor was accused of perpetrating procurement fraud to the tune of N6.5b; he was charged alongside a CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro, and her company, April 1616 Investment. The charges were reduced, Yaro and her company, April 1616 Investment, were removed, and the procurement fraud was reduced to N1.2b  

Emefiele, who is on bail, was also granted leave yesterday by Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court to travel out of Abuja but not out of the country. Counsel for the prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo, did not object to his continued bail. 

Justice Muazu adjourned the case to February 12 and 13, 2024, for continuation of trial.

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