Emefiele Denies 20 Charges of Fraud and Forgery

ABUJA, (iexclusivenews) – The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has entered a not guilty plea to the 20 charges of fraud and forgery brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Emefiele was arraigned before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court today, after the EFCC amended his charge yesterday.

Alleged $6.2m Scam

The EFCC alleged that Emefiele, in collusion with one Odoh Ocheme, obtained $6.2m from the CBN on February 8, 2023, by claiming that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) had requested the money through a letter dated 26th January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.

The anti-graft agency said this was a violation of section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, as Emefiele released the sum of $6.230.000.00 as “contingent logistics” while knowing the claim was false. The EFCC said this offence was punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.

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Alleged Document Forgery

The EFCC also accused Emefiele of forging a document titled “RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS,” with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 on 26th January 2023, and conspiring with Ocheme, who is still at large, to commit the illegal act.

Alleged Contract Fraud

Furthermore, the EFCC alleged that Emefiele gave undue advantage to his wife, Omoile Margret, and his brother-in-law, Omoile Macombo, by awarding a contract for the renovation of a part of the CBN Governor’s residence in Lagos to the tune of N99.8m.

The EFCC said the contract for the renovation of the CBN Governor’s lodge located at No.2 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, was awarded to a company named Messrs Architekon Nigeria Limited, “wherein the duo are directors and majority shareholders.”

The agency said this was a breach of section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

Reduced Charges

Emefiele was initially charged in August 2023 with procurement fraud amounting to N6.5b, along with a CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro, and her company, April 1616 Investment.

However, the charges were reduced, Yaro and her company, April 1616 Investment, were dropped, and the procurement fraud was reduced to N1.2b.

Bail and Adjournment

Emefiele, who is on bail, was also granted permission yesterday by Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court to travel within Abuja but not outside the country. The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, did not oppose his bail conditions.

Justice Muazu adjourned the case to February 12 and 13, 2024, for further hearing.