In the ongoing trial at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, an investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Agboro Omowera, revealed on Monday that ten officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), including former Governor Godwin Emefiele, were involved in approving multi-million contracts to companies April 1616 and Architekon Nigeria Limited.
News About Nigeria reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused Emefiele of using his position to confer a corrupt advantage on his wife, Margaret, and brother-in-law.
The charges include approving payments totaling N97.9 million for the supply of office furniture and N99.8 million for the external renovation of the CBN Governor’s residence to Architekon Nigeria Ltd, where his relatives are directors.
Under cross-examination by Emefiele’s counsel, Agboro Omowera stated that while ten people acted on the documents for the contracts, the responsibility ultimately lies with Emefiele as the head of the CBN.
The investigator said that their investigation focused on relatives and associates, not Emefiele himself, denying that the former governor conferred a corrupt advantage on himself.
Omowera, during the trial, disclosed that Emefiele’s wife and a CBN staff member, Sa’adatu Yaro, were directors of companies that received contracts.
Yaro’s company, April 1616 Investment Limited, allegedly won several contracts for the supply of Toyota Hilux vehicles without being accredited by Toyota.
The trial is set to continue on April 25.
It’s noteworthy that on February 10, the EFCC declared Emefiele’s wife and three others wanted for their alleged involvement in embezzling funds belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
