How Emefiele, nine others approved multi-billion naira contracts for ex-CBN gov’s wife, associates — Witness

An investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Agboro Omowera, on Monday, told a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja that 10 officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria, including a former Governor, Godwin Emefiele, minuted on the documents for the award of multi-million contracts to April 1616 and Architekon Nigeria Limited.

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had accused Emefiele of using his position to confer a corrupt advantage on his wife, Margaret, and brother-in-law by approving the payment of the total sum of N97.9m in favour of Architekon Nigeria Ltd, where the duo are directors for the supply of office furniture to the CBN.

 

He was also accused of awarding a contract for the external renovation of the CBN Governor’s residence in Lagos in the sum of N99.8m to the company.

 

The investigator, who is the seventh prosecution witness, while being cross-examined by the defendant’s counsel, Mathew Burkaa (SAN), stated that 10 persons acted on the documents with which the contracts were awarded.

 

But Omowera added that the buck stops on Emefiele’s table being the CBN governor at the time.

 

He said, “10 persons acted on the documents awarding these contracts. There are 10 minutes and one approval, so one person takes the responsibility.

 

“We tried to confirm whether this company was accredited by Toyota and to our surprise, it was not among the accredited bidders.”

 

The trial judge, Hamza Muazu, subsequently adjourned the matter till April 25 for the continuation of the trial.

 

It was reported that on February 10, the EFCC declared Emefeile’s wife and three others wanted for allegedly conspiring with the former CBN governor to steal huge sums of money belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria.