The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused Godwin Emefiele of impersonating the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, to illegally obtain $6.2 million.
In the most recent amended charge filed before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday, the EFCC accused Emefiele of impersonating the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in order to illegally obtain $6.2 million.
According to the revised charge designated CR/577/2023, Emefiele on February 8, 2023, conspired with one Odoh Ocheme, who is now on the run, to obtain $6.2 million from the CBN, alleging that it was needed by the SGF to “vide a letter dated January 26, 2023 with Reference No. SGF.43/L.01/201.”
According to the EFCC, Emefiele allegedly stated that the SGF requested the CBN to release “a contingent logistic advance in the sum of $6,230,000.00 in line with Mr. President’s directive.”
The EFCC noted that Emefiele made the claim despite knowing that it was false, “and you thereby committed an offense 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.”
Still in the amended charge, the EFCC alleged that Emefiele, in January 2023, forged a document titled “RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS,” dated January 26, 2023, with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.
He claimed to have conspired with the fleeing Ocheme to commit the “illegal act, wit: forgery.”
Furthermore, Emefiele was accused of giving his wife, Omoile Margret, and brother-in-law, Omoile Macombo, a corrupt advantage by reportedly awarding a contract for the refurbishment of a portion of the CBN Governor’s mansion in Lagos worth N99.8 million.
The anti-graft agency claimed that the contract for the restoration of the CBN Governor’s lodge, located at No. 2 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, was awarded to a firm called Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Limited, “wherein the duo are directors and majority shareholders.”
The EFCC stated that Emefiele’s alleged actions violated Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Act 2000.
The amended charge sheet includes a total of 20 counts against Emefiele.
Justice Muazu adjourned until today (Friday) for Emefiele to take his plea on the amended charges.
Emefiele was originally charged in August 2023 with procurement fraud totaling N6.5 billion.
He was later charged alongside a female CBN employee named Sa’adatu Yaro and her company, April 1616 Investment.
The EFCC later revised the indictment by decreasing the counts to six, eliminating the names of Yaro and April 1616 Investment, and lowering the amount of suspected procurement fraud to N1.2 billion.
Emefiele was arraigned on the second accusation on November 29, 2023, and pleaded not guilty.
Prior to the most recent change, the EFCC had already called three witnesses in its trial.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the court amended the terms of Emefiele’s N300 million bail granted on November 22, 2023.
Justice Muazu lifted the requirement that Emefiele be restricted to Abuja until the end of the trial.
The ruling came after Mathew Bukka (SAN), the defense lawyer, filed an application to that effect.
