Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
On Friday, January 19, 2024, he was re-arraigned on 20-count amended charges, including conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and obtaining by pretenses funds totaling $6,230,000.00 ($2,230,000.00) about the provision of corrupt advantages.
Value Count One of the charges is as follows: "During the year 2018, while under the jurisdiction of this esteemed court, you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, an adult male, did exploit your governorship of the Central Bank of Nigeria to grant Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, an employee of the Central Bank of Nigeria, a corrupt advantage by awarding a contract for the supply of thirty-seven Toyota Hilux vehicles at the expense of eight hundred fifty-four million seven hundred thousand Naira (N854, 700,000.00).
Count 20 of the charges states: "That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, an adult male, and Odoh Eric Scheme (who remains unidentified), on or around February 8, 2023, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, knowingly obtained by pretense $6,230,000.00 by falsely representing that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation via letter dated January 26, 2023, with Reference No.
Matthew Burkaa, SAN, Emefiele’s attorney, objected to the charges, invoking Section 221 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA 2015, before the defendant entered.
On the contrary, Justice Muazu rejected his objection, invoking Section 396 of the ACJA and stipulating that any objection concerning the allegations ought to be deliberated upon after the defendant enters a plea.
In addition, he recommended that the defense attorney submit his objection in writing.
In response to Emefiele’s “not guilty” plea to all charges, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the prosecution’s solicitor, requested a trial date from the court.
As for the continuance of the trial, Justice Muazu postponed the case until February 12 and 13, 2024, and upheld the defendant’s previously granted bail.
On November 17, 2023, the EFCC arraigned Emefiele before Justice Muazu on six counts of allegations relating to procurement fraud. The former pleaded “not guilty” to all six counts.