Twist in Emefiele Case: Witness Alleges Nepotism, Reveals Contracts, Payments For Wife, Brother-in-law

The Seventh Prosecution Witness, (PW7) in the trial of former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele on Monday, June 24, 2024 told Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja, that Emefiele signed and approved contract awards and payments to April 1616 Investment Limited and Architekon Nigeria Limited. The companies are owned by Sa’adatu Ramalan Yero, a staff of the apex bank, his wife Margaret, and her brother, Jonathan Omoile respectively.

The witness, Agboro Michael, an investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, is a member of inter-agency investigation team that comprise the EFCC, ICPC, Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Department of State Services, DSS and the Nigeria Police Force. During his cross-examination by defence counsel, Mathew Burkaa, (SAN) said that Emefiele was the approving authority of the contracts awarded to both companies having endorsed all the contract award documents and given approval for payments to the companies.

Burkaa identified exhibits F24 to F44 which are letters from the CBN to April 1616 Investments Limited, for the award of contracts for the supply of cars to the apex bank as well as documents showing requests for payments from the company to the CBN for the delivery of the cars, all signed by Emefiele.

Similarly, the witness identified exhibits A1 to A8, as documents containing memos from CBN for the award of contracts to Architekon Nigeria Limited, belonging to Emefiele’s wife and her brother for the renovation of the CBN governor’s residence, provision of dedicated power lines and supply of furniture as well as requests of payments in respect of the contracts to the company, all approved by Emefiele.

Justice Muazu admitted the exhibits in evidence and adjourned the matter till Tuesday, June 25, 2024 for re-examination of the witness.

The former CBN governor is standing trial before Justice Muazu on amended 20 count-charges that border on conferment of corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery and obtaining by false pretence.