The Federal Government has made its third amendment to the criminal charges against the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. In the latest amendment presented before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accuses Emefiele of impersonating the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to unlawfully obtain $6.2 million.
According to the amended charge, Emefiele, in collaboration with Odoh Ocheme (now on the run), allegedly obtained $6.2 million from the CBN, claiming it was requested by the SGF based on a falsified letter dated January 26, 2023. The EFCC asserts that Emefiele’s actions violate the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006.
Additionally, Emefiele is accused of forging a document titled “RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS,” dated January 26, 2023. The amended charges also include allegations that he conferred corrupt advantage on his wife and brother-in-law by awarding a contract for the renovation of a portion of the CBN Governor’s residence in Lagos, amounting to N99.8 million. This is said to be a violation of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
The amended charge sheet comprises a total of 20 counts against Emefiele, who is scheduled to enter his plea on the amended charges in court today (Friday). The case, which originally involved allegations of procurement fraud amounting to N6.5 billion, has undergone multiple amendments, reducing the counts to six and altering the quantum of the alleged fraud to N1.2 billion. The trial had commenced with three witnesses called by the EFCC before the recent amendments.
