The trial of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, began at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja yesterday. Emefiele faces six counts related to an alleged breach of procurement procedure in the award of a contract to April1616 Investment Limited.
At the commencement of the trial, three witnesses testified against Emefiele. The first witness, Shamsudeen Abulili, a top official of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), exonerated Emefiele in the alleged N1.2 billion-vehicle supply contract. Abulili presented evidence on the incorporation of April1616 Investment Limited on August 1, 2016, emphasizing that Emefiele’s name was not connected to the company.
The second witness, Remigious Ugwu, a Compliance Officer with Zenith Bank, detailed how the CBN made significant payments to April1616 Investment Limited. However, Ugwu clarified that none of the payments had any link to Emefiele’s name.
Oluwole Owoeye, the third witness and Deputy Director of Banking Services at CBN, and former Secretary to the Major Contract Tendering Committee (MCTC), testified about his body’s responsibility for ensuring compliance with procurement laws.
Emefiele is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the trial is centered on alleged irregularities in the award of a contract to April1616 Investment Limited. The witnesses’ testimonies so far have not implicated Emefiele in any wrongdoing.