Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Friday ordered the remand of the former central bank governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele in Kuje Correctional Centre for alleged procurement fraud.
The trial which had been stalled on three occasions finally held on Friday.
The federal government had initially preferred 20 charges on procurement fraud to the tune of N6.5 billion against the defendant.
But on his arraignment on Friday, the government slashed the charges to six and to the tune of over N1 billion.
Emefiele’s counsel, Mr Mathew Burkaa moved the application for bail but the federal government’s lawyer, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo opposed granting of bail.
In the amended charges in which Emefiele is the sole respondent, the federal government alleged that the former CBN chief illegally awarded contracts for dozens of vehicles during his time as the governor of the apex bank.
In count one, he was alleged to have used his position as governor of the CBN to confer a corrupt advantage on a staff of the bank, Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, by awarding a contract for the supply of 37 Toyota Hilux Vehicles at the cost of N854, 700,000.00 to April 1616 Investment Ltd where Yaro is a director.
Counts two to four read: “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in 2019 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 Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of 1 (No.) Toyota Avalon at the cost of ninety-nine million, nine hundred thousand naira (N99,900,000.00) only to April1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramallan Yero is a Director and 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 2019 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 Sa‘adatu Ramaiian Yaro, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of 1 (No ) Toyota Landcruiser V8 at the cost of Seventy three million and = eight hundred Thousand = Naira (N73 800 000 00) only to April1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro is a Director and thereby committed an offence.
“That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in 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 Sa’adatu Ramailan Yaro, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of 2 (Nos.) Toyota Hilux Shell Specification Vehicles at the cost of Forty Four Million Two hundred thousand Naira ° (N44,200,000.00) only to April1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro is a Director and thereby committed an offence.”
Although the accused pleaded his innocence after the charges were read to him, Muazu ordered his remand in prison.
The judge adjourned the case till November 22 for ruling on the bail application and November 28 for the commencement of trial.
