The federal government on Friday arraigned Godwin Emefiele, former hovernor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on a six-count charge bordering on fraud.
In an amended charge filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, the government accused Emefiele of illegally buying 43 vehicles worth N1.2 billion between 2018 and 2020.
Emefiele pleaded not guilty to the amended six-count charge against him.
Prior to its amendment, the federal government had filed a 20-count charge.
Amongst the allegations was that he awarded a contract for the procurement of 37 Toyota Hilux Vehicles valued at N854 million.
Count one 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 supply of 37 Toyota Hilux Vehicles at the cost of N854,700,000 only to April1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro is a director and thereby committed an offence.”
Emefiele was also accused of using his position to corruptly confer an advantage on “a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of one Toyota Avalon at the cost of N99,900,000 only to April1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro Director and thereby committed an offence”.
The federal government further accused him of illegally giving advantage to April1616 Investment Ltd. in 2019, contrary to section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 by awarding a contract for the supply of one Toyota Landcruiser V8 at the cost of N73 million.
The fourth count involved a Toyota Landcruiser V8 valued at N73,800,000 and awarded to the same company.
Emefiele is also accused of awarding a contract to Yaro for the supply of two Toyota Hilux Shell Specification vehicles at the cost of N44,200,000 in 2020.
Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned the case untill November 22 for ruling on Emefiele’s bail application, and November 28 for the commencement of trial. He ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kuje correctional facility until then.
