Emefiele set for arraignment on new charge of alleged N6.9b money laundering

Barring any last minute changes, the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice is likely to arraign the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court Thursday (today).

Emefiele is to be arraigned alongside an employee of the CBN, Sa’adatu Yaro, and a firm, known as April 1616 Investment Ltd.

Emefiele is expected to be arraigned on a fresh 20-count charge filed by the Federal Ministry of Justice.

Recall that the Federal Government, through the DPP of the Ministry of Justice had last Tuesday applied to withdraw an earlier two-count charge in which Emefiele was arraigned in Lagos.

In the new charge preferred against him, the suspended CBN boss and the other defendants are accused of engaging in conspiracy and procurement fraud, among others

He is also accused of conferring corrupt advantages on his associates, including Yaro, said to be a director in April 1616, to the tune of N6.9 billion.

According to the charge as reported, some of the items allegedly procured unlawfully by the defendants are vehicles bought between 2018 and 2020. They comprise 84 Toyota Hilux vans; 10 armored Mercedes Benz buses; three Toyota Land Cruisers and one Toyota Avalon.

Some of tgevcounts in the charge read: “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele (male, adult), Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, (female, adult), and April 1616 Investment Ltd, sometime in 2019 did conspire amongst yourselves to use the office of Mr Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of 1 (No.) Toyota Landcruiser V8 at the cost of N73,800,000 only to April 1616 Investment Ltd.

*That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele (male, adult) sometime in 2018 did use your position as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, a staff member of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of 37 (Nos.) Toyota Hilux Vehicles at the cost of N854,700,000 only to April 1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which she is a director, and thereby committed an offence.

“That you, Sa’adatu Rammala Yaro, sometime in 2018 while being employed at the CBN knowingly held directly a private interest as a director in April 1616 Investment Ltd, in a contract awarded to the said company, for the supply of 47 Toyota Hilux vehicles at the cost of N1,085, 700,000 and thereby committed an offence.

“That you, Sa’adatu Rammala Yaro, sometime in 2018 while being employed at the CBN knowingly held directly a private interest as a director in April 1616 Investment Ltd., in a contract awarded to the said company, emanating from the CBN where you are employed, for the supply of 10 Mercedes Benz armored buses at the cost of N2, 222, 500,000 and thereby committed an offence.”

The suspended CBN governor was further accused of conferring corrupt advantage on Yaro by allegedly awarding contracts for the supply of one Toyota Avalon at the cost of N99.9 million to April 1616 Investment Ltd in 2019; two Toyota Hilux (Shell specification) vehicles at the cost of N44.2 million sometime in 2020, and one Toyota Land Cruiser VXR valued at N96 million in 2020.

Emefiele was also accused of awarding a contract for the supply of another Toyota Land Cruiser V8 for N77.050 million to the third defendant in 2018.

Yaro is also accused of fraudulently acquiring property for getting a contract from the CBN for the supply of 47 Toyota Hilux vans at the cost of N1, 085, 700,000 and thereby committed a punishable offence.”

Meanwhile, Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos will today (Thursday) deliver ruling on the Federal Government’s application to withdraw the 2-counts charge of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition preferred against Emefiele when he was arraigned before the court on July 25, 2023.

The defence counsel for Emefiele, Joseph Daudu (SAN) had opposed the application, arguing that the prosecution is in disobedience of court order made on July 25 by refusing to hand over Emefiele who was granted bail to the Nigerian Correctional Services.