Who can forget Emefiele, the former CBN governor, whose policies stirred the nation?
Notably, his redesign of the naira note aimed at curbing corruption during the election campaign, inadvertently caused a scarcity of the currency.
Mr. Emefiele, the Ex- CBN governor, is currently facing a 20-count charge at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, which includes corrupt advantage, conspiracy, breach of trust, forgery, and obtaining by false pretense totaling $6.23 million.
He is accused by the EFCC of conferring corrupt advantages on his wife and brother-in-law through N97.9 million payments to Architekon Nigeria Ltd, where both are directors.
The witness, Agboro Omowera of the EFCC, stated that 10 CBN officials, including Emefiele, played a role in awarding contracts to April 1616 and Architekon Nigeria Limited, benefiting the accused’s relatives. He also revealed questionable dealings involving Sa`adatu Yaro, a CBN staff member listed as a director of April 1616 Investment Ltd.
Omowera disclosed that Yaro’s company received contracts for Toyota Hilux vehicles, highlighting irregularities in the process.
While Emefiele did not personally benefit, the witness confirmed that his wife’s company enjoyed patronage from the CBN after he assumed office in 2014.
However, the witness acknowledged that they did not visit the CBN governor residence in Lagos during the investigation to determine whether the contract that was awarded to Architecom Nigeria Ltd was executed or not.
He also acknowledged Emefiele’s lack of direct involvement in the companies under scrutiny, stating that he was not a shareholder, director or signatory to the bank accounts belonging to either April 1616 or Architecom.
The looming question before the outcome of the trial is,
Did Emefiele genuinely confer corrupt advantage, or is this an attempt to tarnish his reputation?
Considering his track record, as a decade long Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Appointment under two respective administrations.
We await the judge’s verdict as the trial adjourns to April 25th.
