The former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria Godwin Emefiele has been arraigned on a six count charge bordering on alleged procurement.
The original charge which stood at 20 is to the tune of N6.5billionn but has been reduced to six, worth 1.6Billion Naira.
Emefiele who is the only defendant in the new charge has however pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge.
In the amended charge, the Federal Government is alleging that Emefiele illegally bought 43 vehicles between 2018 and 2020 worth N1.2bn and was accused of awarding a contract for the procurement of 37 Toyota Hilux Vehicles valued at N854m. 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.”
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In count two, Emefiele is accused of using his position to corruptly confer an advantage on Yaro, “a 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 is a Director and thereby committed an offence.” He is also being accused of conferring 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 by April1616 Investment Ltd., in 2019 at the cost of N73m.
The fourth count bothers on a Toyota Landcruiser V8 valued at N73,800,000 also awarded illegally to April 1616 Investment Ltd.
The Federal government further accused the former CBN Governor of also awarding a contract to Yaro for the supply of two Toyota Hilux Vehicles at the cost of N44,200,000 in 2020. The Court has ordered that Godwin Emefiele be remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility, pending the hearing and determination of the bail application before it. Justice Hamza Muazu has however adjourned to November 22, 2023 to rule on the bail application before the court.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
