On Monday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) initiated its case against former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, presenting 20-count charges alleging corrupt practices and forgery.
Matthew Bukaa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, leading Emefiele’s legal team, objected to specific allegations made by EFCC’s prosecution witness, Ogbu Onyeka Michael, a Deputy Director at CBN’s Branch Operation Department.
Michael stated that payment requests are typically routed through his office, detailing the receipt of a request for a USD6,230,000 payment from the Banking Services Department, purportedly for international election observers.
He further outlined the approval process, including that of the CBN governor, for the payment, supported by various documents.
However, Emefiele’s lawyer contested the validity of the documents, urging the court to either dismiss the witness’s claims or compel the prosecution to provide certified copies for proper cross-examination.
In response, EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, requested a 30-minute recess to obtain certified copies of the exhibits, but Bukaa argued that such certification couldn’t be completed within the timeframe, suggesting an adjournment until the next day.
In the interest of justice, the judge adjourned proceedings until Tuesday.
Emefiele had previously pleaded not guilty to the amended 20 counts during his re-arraignment, with the trial scheduled to commence on February 12th and 13th, 2024.
Charges
One of the charges accuses Emefiele of leveraging his position to award a contract for the external renovation of the CBN Governor’s Residence to a company in which his wife and brother-in-law are directors and majority shareholders, amounting to an offense.
Part of the charge reads, “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 99,826,452.47 to Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Limited, a company wherein the duo are directors and majority shareholders and you thereby committed an offence.”
