A prosecution witness (PW7), Mr. Michael Agboro, alleged that the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele awarded contracts to companies belonging to his wife and his brother-in-law. Emefiele is standing trial on an alleged 20-count amended charge, preferred against him by the Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before an FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
He was alleged to have engaged in criminal breach of trust, forgery, and conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and obtaining money by false pretence, when he served as the apex bank’s boss. The EFCC alleged that the former CBN boss forged a document titled: Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions dated Jan. 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 and purported same to have emanated from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (AGF).
Besides he is also accused of using his office as CBN governor to confer unfair and corrupt advantage on two companies; “April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd”. Agboro, an investigator with the Independent, Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) who testified earlier was cross-examined further by Emefiele’s counsel, Mathew Burkaa, SAN.
When asked if the defendant conferred unfair and corrupt advantage on himself, he answered: ”he conferred on Saadatu Yaro, who is a public officer working under him. He also conferred on his wife and brother-in-law.
When asked if Emefiele alone could award and approve contracts, he answered that the contracts were approved by the defendant.
Answering if there was no difference between CBN and Emefiele, he said the difference was that the defendant was an employee of CBN.
When asked if the defendant was a member of the tender’s board or procurement department, he said he did not know.
”We limited our investigation to him, his wife, relatives and associates.
