On Friday, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, faced arraignment at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, Abuja, on 20 counts related to corruption and forgery.
Dressed in an ash-colored pair of trousers and a dark jacket, Emefiele, accompanied by his legal team and associates, arrived at the court premises.
Initially arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on six counts of N1.2bn procurement allegations, Emefiele now faces an amended 20-count charge.
The charges include forgery, conferring a corrupt advantage, and criminal breach of trust. Emefiele, donned in an ash-colored pair of trousers and a dark jacket, pleaded not guilty.
The Federal Government had initially filed 19 charges related to procurement fraud against the ex-CBN boss, later reduced to six.
In the amended charge, Emefiele is accused of obtaining $6.2m through false pretenses, misrepresenting the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The charges also allege Emefiele’s involvement in forgery, conspiring with Eric Ocheme (still at large) to forge a document related to a presidential directive on foreign election observer missions.
Additionally, Emefiele is accused of conferring a corrupt advantage by awarding a renovation contract for the CBN Governor’s residence to his wife and brother-in-law.
Following the adjournment of the case to February for trial, Emefiele’s counsel, Mathew Bukka, expressed gratitude to the trial judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, for allowing his client to enjoy bail.
Bukka emphasized that Emefiele would return to face trial on the amended charges, acknowledging the state’s right to add more counts within the rule of law.
The trial is scheduled to commence on February 12 and 13, 2024.
