The Federal Government has charged former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele with obtaining $6.23 million by false pretence.
In the amended charge dated January 17 and filed for the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) by Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Emefiele is accused of criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and obtaining money by false pretence.
He is accused of conspiring with Odoh Eric Ocheme (at large) to obtain $6.23 million in the name of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The prosecution said he awarded multi-million naira contracts to a company in which his wife, Omoile Margaret, and brother-in-law, Omoile Macombo, are directors and major shareholders.
He is also accused of forging a document, titled: Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions, dated January 26, 2023, with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.
Emefiele allegedly claimed the document emanated from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Oyedepo informed the court about the amended charge at the resumption of proceedings in the case before Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama.
Obtaining by false pretence is one of the counts in the 14 charges added to the six counts earlier filed against the former apex bank boss.
Emefiele was arraigned on November 17, 2023, for allegedly using his position to confer corrupt advantage on a staff member, Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro.
He allegedly awarded contracts for the supply of vehicles to a company, April 1616 Investment Ltd, in which Yaro is a director, between 2018 and 2020, to the tune of N1,210,600,000.
Emefiele pleaded not guilty.
Defence counsel, Matthew Burkaa (SAN), informed the court that his client filed a motion for the variation of some of the conditions attached to the N300m bail earlier granted him.
Burkaa prayed the court to grant the motion, a prayer Oyedepo did not object to, but urged the court to ensure that the defendant remains within the country within the duration of the trial.
The prosecutor urged the court to direct the defence team to write an undertaking that the defendant would remain in the country.
Burkaa said the defence was served with the amended charge yesterday and needed time to study it.
Ruling, Justice Muazu granted the prayer and ordered that Emefiele should remain within Nigeria for his trial.
The judge adjourned till today for Emefiele’s arraignment on the amended charge.
Some of the new counts:
“That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele male, adult and Odoh, Eric Ocheme (still at large) on or about 8th February 2023 in Abuja, whilst being entrusted with the total sum of $6,230,000.00 in your capacity as the Governor and official of the Central Bank of Nigeria respectively, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of that property and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 315 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 89 Laws of the Federation, 1990
“That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele male, adult, and Odoh, Eric Ocheme (still at large) on or about the 8th day of February 2023 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly obtained by false pretence, the sum of $6,230,000.00 by falsely representing that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation vide a letter dated 26 January, 2023 with Ref No. SGF 43/L.01/201 requested the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide a contingent logistic advance in the sum of $6,230,000.00 “in line with Mr. President’s directive” which representation you knew to be false 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.
“That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele male, adult, and Odoh, Eric Ocheme (still at large) sometime in January 2023 in Abuja, did forge a document titled: Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions dated 26 January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 and purported same to have emanated from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 363 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 89 Laws of the Federation, 1990 and punishable under section 364 of the same code.
“That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in December 2014 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did use your position as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to confer a corrupt advantage on your wife, Omoile Margret, and brother-in-law Omoile Macombo by awarding a contract for the total renovation of the CBN Governor’s residence lying, being and situate at No. 2 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos in the sum of N82,086,129.30 to Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Limited, a company wherein the duo are directors and majority shareholders and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
“That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in April 2019 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did use your position as Governor, of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to confer a corrupt advantage on your wife, Omoile Margret, and brother-in-law Omoile Macombo by approving the payment of the total sum of N97,998,416.38 in favour of Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Limited, a company wherein the duo are directors and majority shareholders for the supply of office furniture to Central Bank of Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence.
“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 (CBN) 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.”
(The Nation)
