From Victor Osula, Abuja
A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has pleaded “Not Guilty”, to a fresh 26-count charge of corruption and abuse of office.
Emefiele, alongside Henry Isioma Omoile, was arraigned on Monday, before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja High Court on allegations of accepting gratification, accepting gifts through agents, corruption, and fraudulent property receipt.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), filed the fresh Charges on Wednesday, April 3, before the Court.
Filed by EFCC Prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the charges allege abuse of office and corruption, against the former apex bank chief.
According to the anti-graft agency, the former apex bank chief had allegedly, between 2022 and 2023, abused his authority by arbitrarily allocating foreign exchange totalling $2.1 billion without proper bidding processes, thus undermining the rights of Nigerians.
It further alleged that Emefiele as CBN Governor, accepted gratification, gifts through agents, receipt of property fraudulently obtained, as well as conferring corrupt advantage on his associates contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act of 2000.
Some of the counts read, “That you, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, between 2022 and 2023, in Lagos, directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $2,136,391,737.33 without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.
“That You, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE between 2022 and 2023, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: special allocation of foreign exchange amounting to the total sum of $370,872,893.01 (Three Hundred and Seventy Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy-Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ninety-Three Dollars, One Cent) which act is prejudice to the rights of Nigerians.
“That You, HENRY ISIOMA OMOILE, on or about the 17th of November 2020, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst acting as an agent accepted from Raja Punjab through Monday Osazuwa, the total sum of One Hundred and Ten Thousand Dollars ($110,000), for GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, gifts as a reward for allocating foreign exchange by the Central Bank in favour of Raja Punjab’s employer.
“That You, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, sometime in December 2018, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, corruptly received the sum of Four Hundred Thousand United States of America dollars ($400,000) from The Source Computer Limited on account of the approval of ‘Contracts’ in favour of the said Company, by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Institution of Government wherein you served as Governor.
“That You, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, sometime in December 2018, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, corruptly received the sum of Two Hundred Thousand United States of America Dollars ($200,000) from The Source Computer Limited on account of the approval of ‘Contracts’ in favour of the said Company, by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Institution of Government wherein you served as Governor.”
Taking his plea on Monday before Justice Rahman Oshodi, Emefiele along with his co-defendant, maintained their innocence, pleading, “Not Guilty” to all the allegations.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, ordered the remand of Emefiele in EFCC custody and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, has also been ordered to be remanded at the Kirikiri Prison.
Both defendants are to be remanded till the next adjourned date, Thursday, April 11, when the court will give its ruling on bail.
The court ordered the remand of both men after listening to the bail applications filed by their counsel, AbdulHakeem Labi-Lawal.
