EFCC Re- arraigns Emefiele On Fresh Charges
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) has rearraigned a former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN), Godwin Emefiele, before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) High Court, Maitama. He was re-arraigned yesterday on a 20- count amended charge bordering on conferment of corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery and obtaining by false pretences to the tune of $ 6,230,000.00.
Count one of the charges read: “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in 2018 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 supplyof 37( Nos.) Toyotahilux Vehicles at the cost of N854, 700,000.00 to April 1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa` adutu Ramallan yaroisa director and you thereby committed an offence.”
Count 20 of the charges read: “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 26th January, 2023 with Ref No. SGFF. 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 withmr. President` sdirective” which representation you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence.” Before Emefiele took his “not guilty” plea, his counsel, Mathew Burkaa ( SAN) objected to the charges, citing Section 221 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA 2015.
However, Justice Muazu, relying on Section 396 of ACJA, overruled his objection, stating that any objection in respect of the charges should be heard after the defendant has taken his plea.