For the third time, the Federal Government has amended its criminal charges against the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
THE WHISTLER recalls that after the suspension of Emefiele by President Bola Tinubu, the State Security Service (SSS) charged him before the Lagos State High Court with illegal possession of firearms.
Subsequently, the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice withdrew the charges and approached the FCT High Court Abuja with fresh charges.
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In August, the FG subsequently instituted a fresh 20 counts of procurement fraud charges against Emefiele and a CBN staff member, Sa’adatu Yaro, bordering on alleged N6.9 billion fraud.
But their arraignment stalled since August 17 over the health of the female CBN staff member. .
They were said to have diverted public funds for personal use, including the alleged purchase of exotic cars.
However, in fresh suit no: CR/577/2023, the Federal Government amended the (N1.2b) fraud charges (dated November 8) to six counts with Emefiele as the sole defendant.
Emefiele was granted bail on the court’s previous sitting on November 8.
The charges (filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) stated that the embattled former CBN governor allegedly conferred “undue advantage” in awarding contracts.
Yet, the prosecution announced at the FCT High Court that it has amended its charges to 20 bordering on procurement fraud, forgery, criminal breach of trust among others.
“That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in March 2020 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 your wife, Omoile Margret, and brother-in-law Omoile Macombo by awarding a contract for the external renovation of the CBN Governor’s Residence lying, being and situate at No. 2 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos in the sum of 99,826,452.47 to Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Limited, a company wherein the duo are directors and majority shareholders and you thereby committed an offence,” part of the fresh charges read.
At the proceedings on Thursday, Justice H. Muazu also allowed Emefiele to travel out of the FCT, adding he must not leave the country pending the determination of the suit.
The directive followed an application filed by Emefiele’s legal team, Matthew Bukaa which sought for a variation of the bail granted to their client.
The request was not opposed by the EFCC.
Recall that when Emefiele was granted bail, there were stringent conditions attached including the submission of his international passport and the restriction of his movement within Abuja.