Former CBN governor, Emefiele, approved Contracts, Payments for Wife, Brother-in-law- Witness
The legal trial of the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, was on Tuesday adjourned by a federal High court in Abuja to resume October 21, 2024.
The trial judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, fixed the date on the agreement of the counsel after the close of the cross-examination of the ninth prosecution witness, Mrs Abibia Ockiya-Ogeleye, reported Punchng.
During the trial, Ms Ockiya-Ogeleye, an expert witness, in attendance of the court told the complainant counsel representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that she worked for Architekon Nigeria Limited.
Her services rendered to the company, Architekon Nigeria Limited, according to her testimony, included changing the company’s certain shareholders and directors and filling its annual report.
Ogeleye presented documents, including a certificate in evidence of the company’s registration on which were written the names of shareholders.
The shareholders whose names were documented on the paper were Margaret Omoyile, McCombo Omoyile and Esther Oyeladun Adeoun.
Other documents the witness presented to the court were a record of transfer from McCombo to Margaret made on March 4, 2021, and another document which showed the company’s determination of the appointment of Esther as the firm’s new director.
Ogeleye also offered to read to the court an email she presented, of which she alleged was sent to her by Oyeladun in a request to update her name as a director of the company.
In view of the tendered evidence by the expert witness, Justice Muazu declared all the documents admissible before the court.
In a cross-examination, the defence counsel, Mathew Burkaa, questioned the witness whether there was by any chance a physical meeting with McCombo. But she said,“No.”
Procurement Trial: Witness alleges former CBN governor, Emefiele, approved Contracts, Payments for Wife, Brother-in-law.
Prior to the trial adjournment on Tuesday the former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele on Monday, told Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja, he signed and approved contract awards and payments to April 1616 Investment Limited and Architekon Nigeria Limited.
According to a document obtained from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), 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 obtained document said: “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, which are companies 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, who 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 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.”
