The embattled former central bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, has arrived at the state high court in Ikeja, Lagos state for his arraignment over alleged abuse of office and improper allocation of funds to the tune of billions of dollars.
Emefiele, alongside his co-defendant, one, Henry Isioma Omole, are expected to be arraigned on a fresh 26 count charge before Justice Rahman Oshodi on Monday, April 8th.
The former CBN governor is being charged, amongst others, for allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $2.1 billion without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.
The former Apex bank chief also stand accused of conferring corrupt advantage on his associates contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act, 2000 in the charge filed on April 3rd, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
Some of the counts read, “that you, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, between 2022 and 2023, in Lagos, directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $2,136,391,737.33 without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.
“That You, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE between 2022 and 2023, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: special allocation of foreign exchange amounting to the total sum of $370,872,893.01 (Three Hundred and Seventy Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy-Two Thousand, Eighb’ Hundred and Ninety-Three Dollars, One Cent) which act is prejudice to the rights of Nigerians.
“That You, HENRY ISIOMA OMOILE, on or about the 17th of November 2020, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst acting as an agent accepted from Raja Punjab through Monday Osazuwa, the total sum of One Hundred and Ten Thousand Dollars ($110,000), for GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, gifts as a reward for allocating foreign exchange by the Central Bank in favour of Raja Punjab’s employer.
“That You, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, sometime in December 2018, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, corruptly received the sum of Four Hundred Thousand United States of America dollars ($400,000) from The Source Computer Limited on account of the approval of “Contracts” in favour of the said Company, by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Institution of Government wherein you served as Governor.
“That You, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, sometime in December 2018, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, corruptly received the sum of Two Hundred Thousand United States of America Dollars ($200,000) from The Source Computer Limited on account of the approval of “Contracts” in favour of the said Company, by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Institution of Government wherein you served as Governor.”
