The FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday fixed February 12 for the opening of prosecution in the trial against the suspended Central Bank (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, on charges of procurement fraud.
Judge Hamza Muazu set the date for the start of the trial after Emefiele pleaded not guilty to the 20 amended charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-graft agency had accused him of amending 20 counts of criminal conspiracy, giving undue advantage and breach of trust, among others, all of which he denied on Friday.
Mr. Emefiele was previously charged with six counts and first arraigned on November 28, 2023, before the EFCC filed the amended charges requiring fresh indictment.
The commission, in amending the charges, increased the number of charges from six to 20 and removed the name of a former co-defendant, Sa’adatu Yaro, from the case.
EFCC Prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), earlier announced in court on Thursday that he had handed over the amended charges to Mr Emefiele.
But the former CBN governor’s lawyer, Matthew Burkaa, a SAN, asked for time to study the charges, a request which the judge granted.
The judge also granted a request allowing Emefiele to travel outside Abuja, the federal capital, but not outside Nigeria during the trial.
The judge then set Friday for the defendant’s new appearance.
New accusation
At Friday’s arraignment, Emefiele pleaded not guilty when the 20 charges were read to him.
In some of the charges, EFCC alleged that Emefiele, in January 2023, forged a document titled ‘Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observation Missions’, dated January 2023 and reference number SGF.43/L.01 /201.
The EFCC alleged that Mr Emefiele made the claim knowing it was false.
In case CR/577/2023, the prosecution alleged that Emefiele, on February 8, 2023, conspired with Odoh Ocheme, an alleged fugitive, to obtain $6.2 million from the CBN, claiming it was requested by the office. from the Secretary to the Governor of the Federation (SGF) “vide letter dated January 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201”.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that “the contract for the renovation of the CBN Governor’s Residence, located at No. 2 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, was awarded to a company called Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Ltd, “of which both They are directors. and majority shareholders.
The offences, according to the EFCC, contravened the provisions of Sections 17 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Act, 2000, as well as Sections 315, 363 and 364 of the Penal Code.
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The court allowed the accused to continue with the bail that had been granted to him earlier.
In August, the anti-graft agency first charged Mr Emefiele, along with Sa’adatu Yaro and a company, April 1616 Investment Ltd, with alleged contravention of the Procurement Act in relation to the purchase of some vehicles.