On Tuesday, the FCT High Court adjourned until October 21 to continue the trial of ex-CBN governor Godwin Emefiele over alleged procurement fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged Mr Emefiele with an alleged 20-count amended charge.

When he served as CBN governor, he was alleged to have engaged in criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and obtaining money by false pretence.

Specifically, the EFCC alleged that the former CBN boss forged a document titled ‘Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer ‘Missions’ dated January 26, 2023, with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 purported to emanate from the office of the secretary to the government of the federation.

He is also accused of using his office as CBN governor to confer unfair and corrupt advantage on two companies, April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.

In the amended charge, Mr Emefiele was alleged to have knowingly obtained, by false pretence, $6.2 million on February 8, 2023, by falsely representing the secretary to the government of the federation via a letter dated January 26, 2023, with Ref No. SGF 43/L.01/201 requesting the CBN to provide a contingent logistic advance of $6,230,000 “in line with Presidential directive.”

Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned until October 21 after hearing the testimony of the ninth prosecution witness (PW9).

He further adjourned until July 8 for the hearing of Mr Emefiele ‘s application to have his passport released so that he could attend medical appointments.

Earlier, the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, brought two witnesses, PW8 and PW9. Umar Tilde, the eighth prosecution witness (PW8), works as a compliance officer with Zenith Bank.

He told the court that EFCC requested account opening documents, a statement of account, and a certificate of identification for Mr Emefiele’s account.

“We responded by submitting the requested documents to the EFCC.
The documents from Zenith Bank, account statement of the defendant and certificate of identification were all admitted in evidence and marked as Exhibits ED1, ED2 and ED3,” he stated.

On whether Emefiele had only one account with the bank, he said the letter from the EFCC had different account numbers.

“We responded based on the account numbers supplied,” he said.

The prosecution’s ninth witness was Abibia Ockiya-Ogeleye, a lawyer and principal partner of A & A Legal Consociate. She handled the incorporation matters at the CAC for Architkun Nigeria Ltd.

According to the witness, before 2021, the company had two directors.

“I added one person, which is Madam Esther Oyeladun. There are three directors: Omoile Makonbo, Omoile Margaret and Esther Oyeladun,” the witness stated.

After her testimony, Matthew Burkaa, Mr Emefiele’s counsel, told the court that his client applied to release his passport so he could travel for a medical appointment.

(NAN)