Emefiele trial: Ex-CBN director, contractor reveal more ‘secrets’

The trial of the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, charged with abuse of office and alleged $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud continued on Thursday with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), tendering bundles of documents before the court.

The bundles of documents were tendered through the third prosecution witness, a Compliance Officer with the Zenith Bank, Mr Clement Ngolu, by the EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).

The documents were admitted into evidence following no objections from the first defence counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), and the second defence counsel, Mr Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN).

PlatinumPost reports that Justice Rahman Oshodi admitted the original copies of Zenith Bank account opening package, statement of account of Limelight Multidimensional Services Ltd., sent to the EFCC into evidence.

“I have read the documents dated March 2024, and I admit the original certified copy of the bundles of documents which include account opening package, statement of accounts into evidence and are marked as Exhibit A,” Oshodi said.

Ngolu, in his evidence, said his department responded to regulators and law enforcement agencies in order to ensure that the bank activities were in line with banking policies and regulations .

He added that his department worked with agencies such as the EFCC, the Nigeria Police, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

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The witness said that his department in 2014 got a request from the EFCC to furnish them with statements of accounts of Limelight and two other accounts.
“The documents we sent to the EFCC was duly signed by the staff of the bank.

“The process of generating the statement was through our computer system which was in good condition.

“The documents were printed out from the company’s computer which was working well and the documents were in the bank’s custody,” the witness said.

The defence, however, said they had no question for the witness.

Also, a former Director of Information Technology of CBN, Mr John Ayoh, in the continuation of his cross-examination, said he had a confrontation with Emefiele because he asked him to do something wrong.

The witness who further confirmed that he was sidelined by the embattled governor added that his being sidelined made him not to have any relationship with him.
“I was not happy being unpopular with the former CBN governor but on a number of occasions, I signed contract letters to vendors.

“While I was a director with the CBN, my loyalty was to the bank and the Nigerian nation and my relationship with Emefiele was only formal and based on instructions.

“The governor and the four deputy governors of the bank alongside the directors make up the management of the CBN,” he said.

The fourth witness, a contractor, in his evidence , testified before the court how he was allegedly pressurised by the apex bank management to pay $600,000 for the contract which he had executed.

NAN reports that Ayoh had on April 29 narrated before the court how he allegedly collected $600,000 for contract gratification for Emefiele.

The EFCC had on April 8 arraigned Emefiele on 23 counts bordering on abuse of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand, receiving property fraudulently obtained and conferring corrupt advantage.

Also, his co-defendant was arraigned on three counts bordering on acceptance of gift by agents
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The judge adjourned the case until May 17.

Emefiele trial: Ex-CBN director, contractor reveal more ‘secrets’

Alleged ₦2.7bn fraud: Sirika, daughter get ₦100m bail, barred from travelling

A former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika has pleaded not guilty to the alleged corrupt practices involving about N2.7 billion brought against him by the Federal Government.

Sirika was arraigned before Justice Sylvanus Oriji at the Federal High Court in Abuja along with his daughter, Fatima, his son-in-law, Jalal Sule Hamma, and a firm – Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.

The daughter and son-in-law also pleaded not guilty to the six-count charges when read to them.

Following their denial of the fraud charges, their respective lawyers moved applications for their bail which was granted by the judge.

Justice Oriji admitted the three defendants on bail for ₦100m and two sureties each in the like sum.

The sureties must be responsible citizens with verifiable home addresses while one of them must have landed property with a certificate of occupancy signed by the FCT Minister.

The judge ordered that the defendants must not travel out of the country without express permission of the court.

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If unable to perfect the bail conditions, Justice Orijin ordered that they should be remanded in prison custody till the time of perfection of bail conditions.

The court fixed June June 10th for the commencement of the trial.

Sirika served under the administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on Wednesday said it would arraign Sirika and the three others.

The charge sheet sighted by Channels Television allegedly that Sirika used his position as a minister to fraudulently award contracts to his daughter, son-in-law, and associates.

In February, the EFCC arrested Sirika’s brother Abubakar Sirika over an alleged contract fraud in the aviation ministry.

During his tenure as minister, Sirika faced allegations including conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, contract inflation, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering totaling N8,069,176,864.

The EFCC had revealed that the funds in dispute related to four aviation contracts awarded by the former minister to a company called Engirios Nigeria Limited, which is owned by his younger brother.

Alleged ₦2.7bn fraud: Sirika, daughter get ₦100m bail, barred from travelling

Electricity: Labour demands immediate removal of band classification, tariff hike

Members of organised labour demanded an immediate reversal of the recent electricity tariff hike by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Failure to comply, they declared, would result in a complete shutdown of all NERC offices nationwide.

The movement, led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), expressed vehement opposition to what they termed a “discriminatory practice” of categorizing electricity consumers into arbitrary bands. They asserted that such actions were unjust and vowed to take decisive measures to address them.

A letter addressed to the Chairman of NERC, with copies sent to key government officials including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of State for Labour, and the Minister of Power, outlined the unions’ grievances and demands.

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Signed by Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, and Festus Osifo, President of the TUC, the letter emphasized the necessity of immediate action to rectify the situation. It underscored the duty of the labour movement to protect the rights of citizens against exploitation and called for the restoration of fairness in electricity pricing.

The unions set forth three key demands: the reversal of the electricity tariff hike to its previous rate of N65/kwh, an end to the discriminatory practice of segmenting consumers, and adherence to statutory obligations governing the electricity industry.

A May 12, 2024, deadline was given for compliance with these demands. Should NERC fail to act, the unions pledged swift and decisive action, including occupying NERC and Distribution Companies (DisCos) offices nationwide until justice is served.

The letter concluded with a firm reminder of the unions’ commitment to defending the rights of citizens and ensuring accountability within the electricity sector.

Electricity: Labour demands immediate removal of band classification, tariff hike