By Ayo Yusuf
In a move worthy of the best spy movies, the Nigeria Police smuggled the embattled Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, into the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Thursday to answer charges of conspiracy and procurement fraud.
The vehicle bringing the governor arrived the court premises as early as 7.00am and the suspended governor was sneakily taken to the court room through the judges’ car park, away from the prying eyes of reporters who had gathered at the gate to record his arrival.
Journalists who later got wind of Mr. Emefiele’s presence in the courtroom rushed to take pictures but well armed personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), policemen and lawyers prevented reporters from filming the suspended governor.
The situation led to a commotion as the court premises turned rowdy with loud noises and shoving which took a while to be brought under control.
Mr. Godwin Emefiele was left in tears as the High court again adjourned his arraignment to 23rd August, 2023.
The judge of the Maitama Division of the FCT High Court, Hamzat Muazu, said he had to defer the suspended governor’s arraignment because of the absence of the other defendants joined in the charge.
Mr. Emefiele who was present in court, was charged alongside Sa’adatu Ramalan-Yaro, a female CBN employee, and her company, April1616 Investment Limited, on 20 count charges bordering on procurement fraud, conspiracy and conferring corrupt advantages.
Although represented by her lawyer, the co-defendant, Ramalan-Yaro, was said to be absent from court because of ill health.
After the suspended CBN governor mounted the defendant’s box, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mohammed Abubakar, informed the court that Mrs Ramallan-Yaro “is indisposed to be in court”. He said he was informed of the woman’s condition Thursday morning.
Mr Abubakar asked for an adjournment to enable the prosecution to present the defendants for arraignment.
Responding to the request for an adjournment, Mr Emefiele’s lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), requested to have a brief audience with Mr Emefiele, which was not opposed by the DPP.
“I must commend the DPP for his professional handling of this matter so far,” Mr Kehinde told the judge.
Mrs Ramalan-Yaro’s lawyer, Abdulhakeem Labi-Lawal, also consented to the request for an adjournment.
He, however, informed the court of a pending bail application for Mrs Ramalan-Yaro.
The judge said the bail application would be taken after the defendants’ arraignment.
Mr Emefiele and Mrs Ramalan-Yaro, described in the charge as a CBN staff member, were accused of conspiracy and procurement fraud involving as much as N6.9 billion.
The charges alleged that Mr Emefiele conferred corrupt advantages on Ms Ramalan-Yaro, using her firm, April 1616 Investment Limited.
The government alleged that the defendants perpetrated procurement fraud through the award of contracts to Mrs Ramalan-Yaro’s company for the supply of cars.
The defendants, allegedly through the corrupt transactions, purchased a fleet of about 100 posh vehicles and armoured buses worth about N6.9 billion.
The alleged corrupt transactions took place between 2018 and 2020, according to the charges.
