Alleged N1.6bn Procurement Fraud: Emefiele Arraigned, Remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre 

The Federal Government of Nigeria, Friday arraigned the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, at the federal capital territory high court in Abuja, on a six-count charge bordering on procurement fraud.

The federal government had reduced the criminal charges preferred against the former CBN chief to six from 20 counts.

He pleaded not guilty to the amended six -count charge after it was read to him.

Thereafter, Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court ordered that Emefiele be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till November 22 for ruling on his bail application and November 28 for the commencement his trial.

In the amended charge sheet, the federal government alleged that Emefiele illegally bought 43 vehicles between 2018 and 2020 worth N1.2 billion.

The former banker was also alleged to have awarded a contract for the procurement of 37 Toyota Hilux Vehicles valued at N854 million.

Count one read, “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.

The count two of the amended charge read that Emefiele used 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 Director and thereby committed an offence.

The federal government also accused Emefiele 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 April1616 Investment Ltd., in 2019 at the cost of N73 million.

The fourth count alleged that the former CBN boss illegally awarded a Toyota Landcruiser V8 valued N73,800,000 to April 1616 Investment Ltd.

He was also accused of awarding a contract to Yaro for the supply of two Toyota Hilux Shell Specification Vehicles at the cost of N44,200,000 in 2020.