By Ken Afor
In the amended criminal charges filed against Mr Godwin Emefiele, immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), it was revealed that the embattled former apex bank chief allegedly impersonated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to illegally obtain a sum of $6.2 million while he was in office.
This information was disclosed in the amended charge marked CR/577/2023.
According to reports, Emefiele allegedly colluded with one Odoh Ocheme, who is currently on the run, to fraudulently obtain $6.2 million from the CBN on February 8, 2023. The anti-graft agency claimed that the funds were never requested by the SGF, contrary to Emefiele’s lies, which the EFCC says is ” an impersonation scheme via a letter dated 26th January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.”
According to information provided by the anti-corruption agency, Emefiele purportedly lied that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) made a request to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to release “a contingent logistic advance in the sum of $6,230,000.00 in line with Mr. President’s directive and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Also, the anti-graft agency alleged that Emefiele in January 2023, forged a document titled: “RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS,” dated 26 January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.
He was reported to have supposedly conspired with the Mr Ocheme to carry out the “unlawful act, namely: forgery,” as alleged by the anti-graft agency.
Furthermore, Emefiele was charged with providing illicit benefits to his wife, Omoile Margret, and brother-in-law, Omoile Macombo, by purportedly granting a contract for the refurbishment of a section of the CBN Governor’s residence in Lagos worth N99.8 million.
The company, Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Limited, was awarded the contract for the renovation of the CBN Governor’s lodge situated at No. 2 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, as alleged by the anti-graft agency, “wherein the duo are directors and majority shareholders.”
To the EFCC, Emefiele’s alleged actions violate Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000. With this development, the amended charge sheet now includes a total of 20 counts against Emefiele.
The New Diplomat reports that the court has adjourned until today (Friday) for Emefiele to enter his plea on the amended charges.
It would be recalled that in the original charge filed in August 2023, the former CBN governor was accused of engaging in procurement fraud amounting to N6.5 billion. He was charged alongside Sa’adatu Yaro, a female CBN employee, and her company, April 1616 Investment.
The EFCC later made changes to the charge, reducing the counts to six and removing the names of Yaro and April 1616 Investment.
Similarly, the alleged procurement fraud amount was reduced to N1.2 billion. In his response, Emefiele had pleaded not guilty when arraigned on the second charge on November 29, 2023. The EFCC had called three witnesses during the trial before the recent amendment.
However, on Thursday, the court modified the terms of Emefiele’s N300 million bail, removing the restriction that he must stay in Abuja until the end of the trial. This decision was made in response to an application by the defense counsel, Mathew Bukka (SAN).
TheNewDiplomat recalls that Justice Muazu, in November of last year, had granted Emefiele bail in the sum of N300 million with two sureties of equal value. The judge had specified that the sureties must possess property in the Maitama District of the FCT, Abuja.
Additionally, the ex-CBN governor was instructed not to leave the jurisdiction of the court and was required to surrender all his travel documents to the court.
It would be recallef that at the recent court proceedings on Thursday, Bukka, representing Emefiele, had requested the court to lift the restriction on his client, assuring that he would not violate the terms of his bail if the restriction was lifted.
The EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), did not oppose the request but emphasized the importance of Emefiele providing a written undertaking to remain in the country if his plea was granted.
“From experience, we have seen cases where travel documents are with the court, and the defendant will travel out of the country. What they usually do is go to the immigration and depose an affidavit that their traveling documents are missing.
“So in addition to his traveling documents being with the court, he should write an undertaking that the defendant will remain in Nigeria for the duration of his trial. I am not in any way suggesting the defendant will jump bail,” Oyedepo said.
“The defendant’s application is hereby granted. He must remain in the country for the pendency of his trial,” as ruled by the judge.
