The Federal Government has filed an amended 20-count charge against former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
This is coming barely hours after an based Federal High Court had on Thursday, January 18, granted Emefiele permission to travel out of Abuja and two months after his initial arraignment on six counts related to procurement irregularities in awarding a contract to April 1616 Investment Limited.
The fresh charges which were filed by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, bordered on forgery, conferring of corrupt advantage, and criminal breach of trust among others.
The government had earlier filed 19 charges against the former CBN governor over alleged procurement fraud.
In August 2023, the anti-graft agency brought charges against Emefiele, Sa’adatu Yaro, and the company for violating the Procurement Act during the purchase of vehicles.
The EFCC initially amended the charges in November, dropping the co-defendants and reducing the charges against Emefiele to six.
He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail by Justice Hamza Muazu on November 22, 2023.
The bail conditions included a N300 million bond, two sureties with property in Abuja’s Maitama district, surrender of travel documents, and restricted movement within the city.
But with the amended charge, the EFCC’s pursuit seems far from over.
Oyedepo, informed the court of the amended charge.
The 20-count charge includes, Count 1: “Conferring corrupt advantage contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000”
The particulars of offence are that “You, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in 2019 did use your position as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’aclatu Ramallan Yaro, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarcling a contract for the supply of 37 (Nos.) Toyota Hilux Vehicles at the cost of N854,700,000 only to April 1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro is a Director and you thereby committed an offence.”
Count 2: “Conferring corrupt advantage contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”
The offence particulars are “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, sometime in 2019 did use your position as Governor of the CBN to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, a staff of the CBN by awarding a contract for the supply of 1 (No.) Toyota Avalon at the cost of N99,900,000 only to April 1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro is a Director and thereby committed an offence.”
Count 3: “Conferring corrupt advantage contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
“Particulars of offence: That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, sometime in 2019 did use your position as Governor of the CBN to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, a staff of the CBN by awarding a contract for the supply of 1 (No.) Toyota Landcruiser V8 at the cost of Seveny-three billion and eight hundred Thousand Naira (N73,800,000.00) only to April 1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro is a Director and you thereby committed an offence.
