Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and his accomplices will be put on trial by the federal government on Thursday at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja for N6.9 billion in procurement fraud.
Sa’adatu Yaro, a female CBN employee, and her company, April1616 Investment Limited, will also be charged with the beleaguered top banker on 20 counts of conspiracy, procurement fraud, and giving his friends unfair advantages.
Emefiele, who has been detained since he was removed from office on June 9, 2023, was charged with giving Yaro, a director of April 1616 Investment Ltd., corrupt favours.
The three accused people were accused of purchasing a fleet of over 98 exotic cars and armoured buses valued at approximately N6.9 billion, according to the charges signed by the Federal Ministry of Justice’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Nkiru Jones-Nebo, and eight other ministry officials.
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84 Toyota Hilux vehicles, 10 armoured Mercedes Benz buses, three Toyota Landcruisers, and one Toyota Avalon were among the vehicles purchased between 2018 and 2020.
Count one read, “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in 2018 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did use your position as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, a staff member of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of 37 (Nos.) Toyota Hilux Vehicles at the cost of N854,700,000 only to April 1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which she is a director and thereby committed an offence.
“Statement of the offence: Conferring corrupt advantage contrary to section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.’’
Emefiele was additionally charged by the Federal Government with conspiring to give the second defendant a corrupt advantage in violation of Sections 26(c) and 19 of the Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Act 2000, which is punishable under Section 19 of the same Act.
Emefiele was accused of giving Yaro a corrupt advantage by giving her company, April1616 Investment Ltd., a contract in 2019 to deliver one Toyota Avalon for N99.9 million.
The suspended governor was charged with giving the third defendant a contract in 2018 for the provision of another Toyota Landcruiser V8 for N77.050 million.
It was claimed that the former CBN governor and Yaro colluded to give the CBN employee corrupt advantages by giving
By giving the CBN employee a contract for the supply of two Toyota Hilux Shell-specified vehicles at a cost of N44.2 million and the purchase of one Toyota Landcruiser VXR valued at N96 million in 2020, the ex-CBN governor is alleged to have colluded with Yaro to give the CBN employee corrupt advantages.
“That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, female, adult, and April 1616 Investment Ltd, sometime in 2019 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to use the office of Mr. Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of 1 (No.) Toyota Landcruiser V8 at the cost of N73,800,000 only to April 1616 Investment Ltd,” the charge stated.
Yaro was also charged with fraudulent property acquisition after receiving a contract from the CBN to deliver 47 Toyota Hilux cars for N1,085, 700,000 and allegedly committing a crime.
Another count says, “That you, Sa’adatu Rammala Yaro, female, adult, sometime in 2018 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while being employed at the CBN knowingly held directly a private interest as director in April1616 Investment Ltd., in a contract awarded to the said company, for the supply of 47 Toyota Hilux vehicles at the cost of N1,085, 700,000 and thereby committed an offence.’’
Count 11, “That you, Sa’adatu Rammala Yaro, female, adult, sometime in 2018 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while being employed at the CBN knowingly held directly a private interest as director in April1616 Investment Ltd., in a contract awarded to the said company, emanating from the CBN where you are employed, for the supply of 10 Mercedes Benz armoured buses at the cost of N2,222, 500,00 and thereby committed an offence.’’
