The Government under the Leadership of Bola Tinubu has Officially declared its Intention to File Charges against Godwin Emefiele, the Suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), along with his Associates.
The Charges, amounting to ₦6.9 billion in Procurement Fraud, are scheduled to be presented before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Thursday.
Emefiele, along with Sa’adatu Yaro, a Female Employee of the CBN, and her Company, April 1616 Investment Limited, is poised to confront a 20-count Indictment encompassing Allegations of Procurement Fraud, Conspiracy, and the provision of Corrupt advantages to Associates.
Since his Suspension from office by President Tinubu on June 9, the former CBN Governor has been held in Custody.
He faces Accusations of bestowing Illicit benefits upon Yaro, a Director at April 1616 Investment Ltd, in Violation of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
Should he be proven Guilty, Emefiele could potentially face a maximum sentence of five years Imprisonment, without the Possibility of a Fine.
The Charges, endorsed by the Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar, as well as Deputy Director of Public Prosecution, N. Jones-Nebo, and eight other Officials, revolve around Allegations that the Trio Facilitated the acquisition of a Fleet of luxurious Vehicles and Armored Buses with an approximate value of N6.9 billion.
These Vehicles acquired between 2018 and 2020, consist of 84 Toyota Hilux vehicles, 10 Armored Mercedes Benz buses, three Toyota Land Cruisers, and one Toyota Avalon car.
Furthermore, Emefiele is Alleged to have given Unfair advantages to Yaro’s Company by Awarding a Contract for the Supply of a Toyota Avalon for ₦99.9 million in 2019.
Another Contract for the Procurement of a Toyota Land Cruiser V8, valued at ₦77.050 million, was reportedly granted to the third Defendant in 2018.
Key figures expected to Serve as Witnesses against the Accused encompass Stanley Alvan, the CBN Director of Procurement, Mike Agboro, the CBN Head of Procurement, and Tahir Jafar.
Additional Witnesses are anticipated to be presented as Supplementary Evidence in the Case.
