The trial of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) got underway, on Tuesday, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Abuja.
Incidentally, three witnesses of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) exonerated him of wrongdoings in the award of N1.2 billion vehicle supply contracts by the CBN under his watch.
Emefiele is facing trial by the Federal Government through the EFCC, which slammed six counts, bordering on alleged breach of procurement procedure in the award of the contract to April1616 Investment Limited.
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However, the first prosecution witness, Samsideen Romanus, admitted that Emefiele was neither the owner nor a shareholder in the company that was awarded the N1.2bn vehicle supply contract by CBN under Emefiele.
The witness, who is a top official of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) gave evidence on how the company was incorporated on August 1, 2016, and tendered several documents on how the company was floated.
He read out before the Court, the names of shareholders of the company, comprising Aminu Idris Yaro, Maryam Aliyu Abdullahi and Saadatu Ramalan Yaro as joint owners of the entity.
Romanus was led in evidence by EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, as he tendered several documents on how the company was incorporated on August 1, 2016, adding that Emefiele’s name was not connected with the company in any way.
He explained that although CAC was responsible for the incorporation of the company, it, however, has no role in the day-to-day running of affairs of the entity.
The second witness, Remigious Ugwu, a Compliance Officer with Zenith Bank, told the court how various sums of money in millions of naira were paid by the CBN into the April1616 Investment Limited.
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Specifically, he told Justice Hamza Missing how, on October 19, 2020, a sum of N39, 060, 465, another N421, 953, 488 on November 6, 2020, and the third one N304, 883, 720 was paid on November 23, 2020, to the same company by CBN.
Furthermore, he said N304,883,720 was paid on January 1, 2021, and another N304, 883, 720 paid to the same company on March 23, 2021, by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He admitted that none of the payments had any links to Emefiele’s name while also clarifying that he did not know the purpose of the payments.
Ugwu tendered various documents on behalf of the bank and said the former CBN governor was not a signatory to the bank account of the company.
Similarly, the third witness, Oluwole Owoeye, a Deputy Director, Banking Services with CBN and former Secretary to the Major Contract Tendering Committee, MCTC of the CBN, disclosed that his body was responsible for ensuring compliance with the Procurement Act in the award of contracts.
However, he told the court that his committee was not involved in the vetting of bidding for the award of contracts that led to the prosecution of Emefiele.
Oluwole Owoeye explained that another committee handled the bidding because it was above the thresholds of his own committee
He said: “My Lord, all I know through our records is that contracts for the award of vehicle supplies were awarded to April1616 but I cannot say whether the contracts were executed or paid for because my Committee played no role.”
He admitted that the MCTC and Procurement Department were fully functional while Emefiele held sway as CBN governor.
Emefiele’s trial was subsequently adjourned till January 18 and 19 next year.
