Business and Economy
FG Amends Charges Against Former CBN Governor Emefiele
By Iyojo Ameh
Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, faces additional legal challenges as the Federal Government has amended charges against him. The charges have surged from six to 20, encompassing allegations of forgery, conferring corrupt advantage, and criminal breach of trust.
Initially accused of N6.9 billion procurement fraud, the charges were reduced to six, amounting to N1.
The charge asserts, “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, knowingly obtained by false pretence, the sum of Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand United States Dollar ($6,230,000.00) by falsely representing that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation requested the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide a contingent logistic advance.”
Emefiele is also implicated in conniving with Eric Ocheme, who is still at large, to commit forgery, a violation of the Penal Code Law.
Furthermore, Emefiele is accused of conferring corrupt advantage by awarding a contract for the renovation of a portion of the CBN Governor’s residence in Lagos worth N99.8 million to a company where his wife and brother-in-law serve as directors and majority shareholders.
Emefiele’s counsel requested time to review the amended charges, with the trial judge adjourning the matter until January 19 for Emefiele’s plea in response to the new charges.
