Stephen Gana, a prosecution witness, testified before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday that two companies linked to Godwin Emefiele, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, received preferential treatment during vehicle procurement contract bidding.
This revelation is part of an ongoing case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging procurement fraud against Emefiele.
Gana, who is the prosecution witness (PW10), was the former Head of CBN’s Procurement Department.
The witness led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), confirmed that he was in office when contracts for vehicles contained in Exhibits F4 to F45 were approved.
The witness told the court that Toyota vehicles obtained at the cost of N99.9 million were acquired by the CBN from April ”1616” Company Ltd. through direct procurement.
Referring to Exhibit F5, Gana said two Toyota Hilux were obtained at the cost of N23.1 million each through selective bidding.
He said the April 1616 company was awarded the contract having placed the lowest bid and aligning with the CBN’s in-house estimate of the same sum.
The witness had previously testified that the CBN could award contracts through direct procurement or selective bidding.
He added that depending on the guidance of the director of the procurement department, who works in team with the Deputy Director, the Head of Procurement (himself), and the procurement officer.
Following his testimony, the prosecution counsel pleaded with the court to grant him an adjournment date that differed from the original one of October 22.
”I am appearing in a case filed by Kogi and 15 other states against the EFCC in the Supreme Court on Tuesday,” he told the court.
The defence counsel, Mr. Matthew Burkaa, however, did not object to the prayer but pointed out that the cost of movement was high now and such should be considered.
Justice Muazu then adjourned the matter until November 13 for continuation and hearing of the application.
Earlier, Burkaa had opposed the prosecution’s amended additional proof of evidence served on them.
Burkaa contested the procedure and the expression of intent to call two witnesses who weren’t previously on the list.
He said the defence was not challenging the charge but brought in new witnesses to testify.
According to Persecondnews, during his tenure as the apex bank’s boss, Emefiele allegedly committed crimes such as criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and obtaining money by false pretence.
Among the allegations was that the former CBN boss forged a document titled Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions dated January 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 and purported to have emanated from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (AGF).
He is also accused of using his office as CBN governor to confer unfair and corrupt advantage on two companies, April 1616 Nigeria Ltd. and Architekon Nigeria Ltd., in a suit marked FCT/HC/CR/577/2023.
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