Abuja Court Varies Emefiele’s Bail to Extend Travel Outside Abuja as FG Increases Charge to 20-count

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Hamza Muazu of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Maitama, Abuja  yesterday varied the bail condition granted the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele.

The court had in last November granted Emefiele bail in the sum of N300million with two sureties in like sum.
As part of conditions attached to the bail, Justice Muazu, who ordered Emefiele to deposit his travel documents with the court said the former CBN boss must remain in Abuja during the period of the trial.

However, at yesterday’s proceedings, counsel to Emefiele, Mathew Burkaa SAN, informed the court that the defendant filed a motion dated January 10, seeking variation of the bail condition to enable him travel within the country.
He urged the court to varied the condition for his client.

Responding, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who represented the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said he was not opposed to the granting of the application, adding that the court should ensure that the defendant remains within the country while his trial lasts.
He further asked that the defence team write an undertaking that their client will remain in the country.

Subsequently Justice Muazu granted the request and ordered that Emefiele should remain within Nigeria for the period of his trial.
Meanwhile, Oyedepo informed the court that the prosecution, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had on Wednesday filed an amended charge against Emefiele and urges that the defendant be allowed to take his please for the new charge.
Burkaa, however, told the court that the defence was served the new charge on Wednesday and needed time to study it.
The court accordingly adjourned sitting till January 19 for the new charge to be taken.

Emefiele was arraigned before the court on November 17, 2023 a six-count charge bordering on conferring advantage on a female staff member of CBN, contrary to the provision of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
In the charge marked CR/577/2023, Emefiele was accused of using his position as CBN governor to award sux different contracts to on Sa’adatu Ramalan Yero, an CBN staff member, between2018 and 2020 to the tune of N1,210,600,000.

The procurement contracts were awarded to April 16 Investment Ltd, in which the said Sa’adatu Ramalan Yero is a director.
Emefiele, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Meanwhile, the federal government has amended the charge against the former CBN governor from six to 20.
Initially the federal government had filed a 19 count charge against Emefiele, bordering on N6.9 billion procurement fraud but later arraigned him on a six count charge bordering on N1.2 billion.

Meanwhile, Emefiele in the new charge is alleged to have obtained the sum of $6.2 million by falsely representing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.  
The government said the offence was 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 charge read, “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele male, adult, and Odoh, Eric Ocheme (Still at large) on or about February 8, 2023 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly obtained by false pretence, the sum of Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand United State Dollar ($6,230,000.00) by falsely representing that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation vide a letter dated 26th January, 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 requested the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide a contingent logistic advance in the sum of $6,230,000.00 “in line with Mr. President’s directive” which representation you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence.”

He was also accused of conniving with one Eric Ocheme who has been at large to commit forgery.  
The government said the offence was contrary to section 96 (1) and punishable under section 364 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 89 Laws Federation, 1990.
It read, “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele male, adult, and Odoh, Eric Ocheme (Still at large) sometime in January 2023 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court agreed amongst yourselves to cause to be done an illegal act to wit: forgery of a document titled: RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS dated 26 January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 and you thereby committed an offence.”
Emefiele was also accused of conferring 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 government said the offence was contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
The charge read, “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in March 2020 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did use your position as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer a corrupt advantage on your wife, Omoile Margret, and brother-in-law Omoile Macombo by awarding a contract for the external renovation of the CBN Governor’s Residence lying, being and situate at No. 2 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos in the sum of 99,826,452.47 to Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Limited, a company wherein the duo are directors and majority shareholders and you thereby committed an offence. “
Emefiele’s counsel, Mathew Bukka, SAN, pleaded with the court for time, adding that the amended charge was served on them on Wednesday.  
The trial judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, adjourned the matter till Friday January 19, for fresh plea of Emefiele to be taken in the new charges.