COURT ADJOURNS EMEFIELE'S ALLEGED N1.6 BILLION FRAUD CASE TILL JAN 2024

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An alleged case of procurement fraud involving Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has been postponed by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

The trial of the former bank chief was postponed by the court until January 18 and 19, 2024, in order to continue the case.

Emefiele is being tried on a six-count amended allegation pertaining to purported N1.6 billion car purchases.

To the charges, he had entered a not guilty plea.

On November 17, 2023, N300 million in bail plus two sureties were granted to him. He was then placed under arrest at the Kuje Correctional Centre until he fulfilled his bail requirements.

The prosecution witness, a senior CAC official, informed the court at the reopened hearing that Emefiele was neither the proprietor nor a stakeholder of April1616 Investment Limited, which CBN under Emefiele had issued a N1.2 billion car supply contract to.

Rotimi Oyedepo, an attorney for the EFCC, led him in evidence as he submitted multiple documents detailing the company’s incorporation date of August 1, 2016.

He went on to read out the names of the company’s shareholders, which are Aminu Yaro, Maryam Abdullahi, and Saadatu Yaro, who are the entity’s joint owners.

Emefiele has not yet complied with his bond requirements, according to his attorney, Mathew Burkaa, who chose not to talk on camera.

Counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Federal Government declined to speak on the day’s proceedings.