How Emefiele impersonated SGF to Collect $6.2M from CBN – EFCC

How Emefiele impersonated SGF to Collect $6.2M from CBN – EFCC

The criminal charges filed against the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, have been amended for the third time by the Federal Government.

In the latest amended charge presented before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission accused Emefiele of obtaining a sum of $6.2m through impersonating the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

According to the amended charge marked CR/577/2023, Emefiele, on February 8, 2023, allegedly collaborated with Odoh Ocheme, who is currently on the run, to obtain $6.2m from the CBN, claiming that it was requested by the SGF “vide a letter dated 26th January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.”

The EFCC stated that Emefiele falsely claimed that the SGF requested the release of “a contingent logistic advance in the sum of $6,230,000.00 in line with Mr. President’s directive.”

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Despite knowing that it was false, the EFCC accused Emefiele of committing an offense contrary to section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.

The amended charge also alleged that Emefiele forged a document titled “RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS,” dated 26 January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201, and allegedly collaborated with Ocheme to commit the “illegal act to wit: forgery.”

Moreover, Emefiele was accused of conferring a corrupt advantage on his wife, Omoile Margret, and brother-in-law, Omoile Macombo, by awarding a contract for the renovation of a portion of the CBN Governor’s residence in Lagos to the tune of N99.8m.

The EFCC alleged that the contract for the renovation of the CBN Governor’s lodge, located at No. 2 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, was awarded to a company named Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Limited, “wherein the duo are directors and majority shareholders.”

Emefiele faces a total of 20 counts in the amended charge sheet, and the court adjourned till today (Friday) for him to take his plea on the amended charges.

In the original charge filed against him in August 2023, Emefiele was accused of perpetrating procurement fraud to the tune of N6.5bn, alongside a female CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro, and her company, April 1616 Investment.

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Later, the EFCC amended the charge, removing the names of Yaro and April 1616 Investment, and the quantum of the alleged procurement fraud was reduced to N1.2bn. Emefiele pleaded not guilty and the trial had commenced prior to the latest amendment.

The court also varied the terms of the N300m bail granted to Emefiele on November 22, 2023. The condition restricting Emefiele to Abuja was removed following an application moved by the defense counsel, Mathew Bukka (SAN).

Justice Muazu in November last year granted Emefiele N300m bail with two sureties in like sum, with the requirement that the sureties must have landed property in the Maitama District of the FCT.

At the proceedings on Thursday, Bukka urged the court to lift the restriction on his client, assuring that Emefiele would not jump bail if the restriction was lifted. The EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), did not oppose the request but urged the court to ensure that Emefiele wrote an undertaking to remain in the country for the duration of his trial, which the judge granted.

How Emefiele impersonated SGF to Collect $6.2M from CBN – EFCC