By Taiwo Adebowale, Senior Business Correspondent
ABUJA, Nigeria — On Monday, March 11, 2024, in the ongoing fraud trial of Godwin Emefiele, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), an explosive testimony before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), High Court, Abuja, revealed how he allegedly approved the awarding and paying contracts to April 1616 Investment Limited and Architekon Nigeria Limited, companies purportedly owned by Sa’adatu Ramalan Yero, his wife Margaret Emefiele, and his in-law, respectively. The witness for the prosecution was Witness PW7.
The prosecution attorney, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, led Agboro Michael, an ICPC investigator, in testimony. Agboro Michael was a member of the investigative team that included the Nigerian Police, EFCC, ICPC, CCB, and DSS. He provided testimony regarding the count-charge brought against Emefiele, which accused him of abusing his position and giving a public official and his family an undue advantage.
“My Lord, approximately 45 contracts to supply Toyota vehicles were given to these companies.” As investigators, we were concerned about how a certain company would receive bids for the delivery of automobiles at the same time. After conducting our research, we found that Toyota had not even granted the company accreditation.
“My Lord, of the two companies, one has Sa’adatu as a director together with her siblings and husband, while the other has Sa’adatu as a director while she is still employed by the government.
“The defendant’s signature, numbered three on the document, certifies that he has the authority to pay the amount of N854, 700,000 (eight hundred fifty-four million, seven hundred thousand naira),” he stated. Michael continued his testimony by stating that the defendant authorised 1, 85,700,000 (one billion, eighty-five million, seven hundred thousand) for the sale of 47 Toyota Hilux vehicles in “F3.”
While “F4” represented the defendants’ consent to pay N99,900,000 (ninety-nine million, nine hundred thousand naira) for an armoured Toyota Avalon car for the bank, and “F5” represented the defendants’ consent to acquire two Toyota Hilux vehicles for the bank; all transactions were made through April 1616 Investment Limited.
Speaking on November 6, 2021, on exhibit P26, page 86 of 107, the investigative team’s findings. The CBN has credited the account with N41, 943, 400, 34 (forty-one million, nine hundred and forty-three thousand, four hundred and thirty four kobo), according to Michael.
N304, 853, 50 (Three Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand Naira, Fifty Kobo) was another credit from the CBN on page 87 in April 2016.
The CBN also gave N304, 853, 720, 55 (three hundred and four million, eight hundred and fifty, three thousand seven hundred and twenty Naira fifty-five kobo) to Investment Nigeria Limited on January 26, 2021, April 16, 1616.
“N201, 23, 323, 31 (Two Hundred and One Million, Twenty-Three Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty-Three Naira, Thirty-One Kobo) was paid by the CBN on February 10, 2021.
On March 24, 2021, N304,843,720,85 was approved for payment; on April 27, 2021, N60,976,744,17 (sixty million, nine hundred and seventy-six thousand, seven hundred and forty-four naira, seventeen kobo) was approved. The defendant approved the payments of N50,547,508,30 (Fifty Million, Five Hundred and Forty-Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Eight Naira Thirty kobo) on February 21, 2021 and N60,976,744,17 (Sixty Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty-four Naira, Seventeen kobo) on May 31, 2021.
The witness further informed the court that the defendant’s confession was cautiously recorded by the team and video recorded in a conducive environment.
The witness went on to testify, saying, “In 2019, we also found that the defendant had given a corrupt advantage to one of the CBN employees, Sa’adatu Ramalan Yero, by using his office and position to supply one Toyota Land Cruiser V8 at a cost of N73,800,000 (seventy-three million, eight hundred thousand) to her company, April 1616 Investment Nigeria limited, where she is a director as well as an equal director in the CBN.
“Once again, my Lord, the defendant authorised the payment to Architekon Nigeria Limited, a firm whose directors include his brother-in-law and wife, for the restoration of the CBN Governors’ mansion at 2 Global Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
“Sometime in 2020, the defendant awarded their company N39,46,000 (thirty-nine million, forty-six thousand naira) for landscaping the CBN governor’s residence, using his position as CBN Governor to confer on his wife and brother-in-law corrupt advantage,” the statement read.
Michael went on to say that his brother-in-law was also given a contract worth 97,000,000 (ninety seven million naira) to purchase furniture, and that another contract worth N68,568,740 (sixty-eight million, five hundred and sixty-eight thousand, seven hundred and forty naira) was given to purchase a power line at the same CBN Governor’s residence.
Matthew Burkaa SAN, the defendant’s attorney, questioned the witness during cross-examination, pointing out that although the note had numerous signatories, only his client was on trial. The witness replied by informing him that the defendant was on trial because he was the one who had the authority to approve things; other people were merely minuters on the paperwork used to support the procedure and lacked the authority to approve or make such payments.
Oyedepo objected, claiming the statement was a public record that required certification before it could be submitted as an exhibit. Burkaa also sought to present the defendant’s statement from the Nigerian Police force before the court. Subsequently, Burkaa removed the document and pledged to present the authentic certified copy on the subsequent adjourned date.
Judge Muazu then postponed the case until April 25 and 26, 2024, in order to continue the trial.
