Breaking: Alleged N1.6bn procurement fraud: Emefiele arraigned, remanded in prison

The Federal Government on Friday arraigned the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, over alleged N6.5 billion procurement fraud.

He is facing a six-count charge after the initial charges of 20 counts were reduced before Justice Hamza Muazu of a Federal High Court, Abuja.

Persecondnews reports that the former CBN governor, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The lead counsel for Emefiele, Mr Mathew Burkaa (SAN), had brought up his bail application for hearing initially scheduled for Tuesday, November 14, but was stalled due to the nationwide strike declared by the NLC and TUC.

In the amended charge sheet, the federal government alleged that Emefiele illegally bought 43 vehicles between 2018 and 2020 worth N1.2 billion.

He was accused of awarding a contract for the procurement of 37 Toyota Hilux Vehicles valued at N854 million.

Count one reads: “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.”

Second count: “That you Emefiele used your position to corruptly confer an advantage on Yaro, “la 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.”

Third count: “That you confer corrupt advantage 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 April1616 Investment Ltd., in 2019 at the cost of N73 million.”

Fourth count:”That you awarded contract for the purchase of a Toyota Landcruiser V8 valued N73,800,000 illegally to April 1616 Investment Ltd.”

In addition, Emefiele was 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 Muazu adjourned the case until November 22 for ruling on the bail application, and November 28 for the commencement of trial.

He ordered Emefiele to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.