June 25, (THEWILL) – A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has adjourned until October the trial of Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned the trial until October 21, after the testimonies of the 8th and 9th prosecution witnesses. However, the court has fixed July 8, to address a separate application filed by Emefiele, seeking the release of his international passport to allow him to travel for medical reasons.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the former apex bank chief before Justice Muazu on a 20-count amended charge of alleged procurement fraud to which he pleaded not guilty. He was also accused of abusing his office by approving a contract for the acquisition of 43 vehicles totalling N1.2 billion from 2018 to 2020.
The anti-graft agency further alleged that Emefiele forged a document titled ‘Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions’ dated January 26, 2023, with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201, claiming to be from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
However, at Tuesday’s hearing, the EFCC presented two witnesses. Umar Tilde, the 8th prosecution witness who works with Zenith Bank as the Compliance Officer. He testified that the EFCC requested financial documents related to Emefiele’s accounts. The second witness, Mrs. Abibia Ockiya-Ogeleye, is a lawyer who handled incorporation matters for Architekon Nigeria Ltd. Her testimony focused on the company’s directors.
Recalled that the EFCC had on April 8, 2024, arraigned the former apex bank chief alongside one Henry Omoile before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos over alleged $4.5bn and N2.8bn fraud. He had also pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In another case filed before Justice Maryann Anenih at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, the Federal Government, through the EFCC, had in a four-count charge alleged that Emefiele, acting in violation of law and “with intent to cause injury to the public”, printed the new naira notes without the approval of the former President, Muhammadu Buhari and the board of the CBN.
