FG to arraign Emefiele over N6.9billion fraud

Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), will be charged by the federal government on Thursday.

According to sources at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, Mr. Emefiele will be charged at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday.

This comes after the federal government on Tuesday asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss the initial accusations of illegally possessing firearms and ammunition brought against Mr. Emefiele.

Abubakar Mohammed, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, said to Nicholas Oweibo, the judge, that the plea for withdrawal was based on the findings of additional government investigations.

The judge set Thursday for a decision on the motion, which Mr. Emefiele's legal counsel argued against.

Following the day's events, Mr. Mohammed informed the media about the addition of 20 new charges against Mr. Emefiele.

Mr. Emefiele, who has been in the State Security Service's (SSS) custody since June 10th, is scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja on that Thursday to answer to 20 further counts of conspiracy and procurement fraud.

He was charged along with Sa'adatu Yaro, a member of the CBN staff, and her business, April 1616 Investment Limited.

The government claims that Mr. Emefiele gave Ms. Yaro improper advantages by awarding her company contracts for the supply of cars worth up to N99.9 million.

The alleged transactions, according to court documents, happened between 2018 and 2020.

He was accused under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Act 2000, which carries a five-year prison penalty if found guilty.

“Any public officer who uses his office or position to gratify or confer any corrupt or unfair advantage upon himself or any relation or associate of the public officer or any other public officer shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for five years without an option of fine,” the law stipulates.

The accusations stated that Mr. Emefiele and Ms. Yaro had spent nearly N6.9 billion on a fleet of about 100 upscale cars and armoured buses.

Source